Bioactivity Potential of Aesculus hippocastanum L. Flower: Phytochemical Profile, Antiradical Capacity and Protective Effects on Human Plasma Components under Oxidative/Nitrative Stress In Vitro

Abstract

Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) flower is a traditional medicine applied to alleviate symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). However, its flavonoid-based composition has not been sufficiently recognized, and the data supporting its traditional application are lacking. In the work, 43 constituents were detected by UHPLC–PDA–ESI–TQ–MS/MS (flavonoids, phenolic acids, flavanols, and coumarins), including 31 reported in the flower for the first time. The quantitative HPLC–PDA study (developed and validated for quality control purposes) indicated the fractionated extraction as an efficient method for enhancing the total polyphenol content (TPHC) in the extracts (up to 414.06 mg/g) and kaempferol glycosides as their dominant constituents (75.05–82.14% TPHC). The activity studies showed significant scavenging properties of the extracts and their constituents towards reactive oxygen species (especially against highly reactive hydroxyl radical, with capacities up to 7.85 mmol ascorbic acid equivalents/g). Moreover, the analytes relevantly protected human plasma biomolecules from peroxynitrite-induced oxidative/nitrative damage; at 1–50 µg/mL, they hindered the protein nitration and lipid peroxidation, decreasing the levels of 3-nitrotyrosine (by up to 50%) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (by up to 70%), respectively. The extracts also averted the depletion of plasma thiols (by up to 67%) and improved the non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity of plasma. The demonstrated mechanisms might be partly responsible for the efficacy of the flower in CVI. Additionally, the anti-aggregatory and anticoagulant properties of the extracts were found only mild or negligible, which suggests that they may be safely applied with drugs impacting the coagulation process.

Chemodiversity of Arctic Plant Dryas oxyodonta: LC-MS Profile and Antioxidant Activity

“…Two kaempferol derivatives—trifolin (kaempferol 3- O -galactoside, 24 ; 447 → 285) and juglanin (kaempferol 3- O -arabinofuranoside, 25 ; 417 → 285)—were characterized at the first level of identification through comparison of retention times, UV spectra, and MS data with reference compounds. The proposed structures of the acylated kaempferol derivatives were inferred from characteristic UV spectra (252 ± 3 and 332 ± 2 nm), deglycosylated fragments, and daughter ions formed upon the loss of caffeoyl moieties in the mass spectra, indicating kaempferol O -caffeoyl- O -hexoside and kaempferol O -caffeoyl- O -pentoside as tentative formulae for compounds 38 and 40 , respectively [ 30 ].…”

Phenolic-Based Discrimination between Non-Symptomatic and Symptomatic Leaves of Aesculus hippocastanum Infested by Cameraria ohridella and Erysiphe flexuosa

“…In the literature, phenolic compounds have been examined in different parts of A. hippocastanum , e.g., the leaves [ 2 , 27 , 29 ], flowers [ 30 ], fruit pulp, skin, husk [ 4 ], or seed kernels [ 31 ]. The extracts may be useful not only for plant protection against insect invasions in urban and rural environments but also in various industries such as food production, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.…”

“…The present results suggest that the first stage of the defense mechanism involved rapid synthesis of phenolic compounds with elevated levels of DPPH (from the third collection period). In the literature, phenolic compounds have been examined in different parts of A. hippocastanum, e.g., the leaves [2,27,29], flowers [30], fruit pulp, skin, husk [4], or seed kernels [31]. The extracts may be useful not only for plant protection against insect invasions in urban and rural environments but also in various industries such as food production, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.…”

Pharmaceutical availability of hydrogels with extracts of Arnica montana, Aesculus hippocastanum and Ruscus aculeatus and their potential use as antioxidant polyphenol-rich material

“…esculin and esculetin) [2,9]. Among phenolic acids, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, and p-coumaric acid were detected [10]. Clinical studies support the use of horse chestnut in chronic venous insufficiency (i.e.…”