Inhibition of Digestive Enzymes and Antioxidant Activity of Extracts from Fruits of Cornus alba, Cornus sanguinea subsp. hungarica and Cornus florida–A Comparative Study

Abstract

The fruits of some Cornus species (dogwoods) are used in traditional medicine and considered potential anti-diabetic and hypolipemic agents. The aim of the study was to determine the ability of extracts from Cornus alba (CA), Cornus florida (CF), and Cornus sanguinea (CS) to inhibit digestive enzymes namely α-amylase, pancreatic lipase, and α-glucosidase, as well as isolation of compounds from plant material with the strongest effect. In addition, the phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of extracts from three dogwoods were compared with HPLC-DAD-MS/MS and DPPH scavenging assay, respectively. Among the aqueous-ethanolic extracts, the activity of α-amylase was the most strongly inhibited by the fruit extract of CA (IC50 = 115.20 ± 14.31 μg/mL) and the activity of α-glucosidase by the fruit of CF (IC50 = 38.87 ± 2.65 μg/mL). Some constituents of CA fruit extract, such as coumaroylquinic acid, kaempferol, and hydroxytyrosol derivatives, were isolated. Among the three species of dogwood studied, the greatest biological potential was demonstrated by CA extracts, which are sources of phenolic acids and flavonoid compounds. In contrast, iridoid compounds or flavonoid glycosides found in fruits of CF or CS extracts do not play a significant role in inhibiting digestive enzymes but exert antioxidant activity.

Total phenolic content, cyclooxygenases, ?-glucosidase, acetylcholinesterase, tyrosinase inhibitory and DPPH radical scavenging effects of Cornus sanguinea leaves and fruits

“…Suprisingly, α-glucosidase activity increased in the presence of FME at 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 µg/ml. On the contrary of our work, Truba et al reported that aqueous-ethanolic extract of C. sanguinea fruit exhibited inhibitory effect against α-glucosidase enzyme and the IC50 value of it was determined as 70.07 ± 16.62 µg/ml [25]. In this study, the results of in vitro AChE inhibitory potentials of the extracts showed that LME showed higher inhibitory effects that of FME but it had lower inhibitory action than galantamine.…”

Cornus sanguinea Fruits: a Source of Antioxidant and Antisenescence Compounds Acting on Aged Human Dermal and Gingival Fibroblasts

“…However, no studies on the isolation of the secondary metabolites from these drupes have been provided so far; thus, both the existing findings indicating dogberries as a potential source of natural antioxidants and our ongoing studies on small Italian fruits [13] aimed to fully investigate the chemical constituents of C. sanguinea fruits. New compounds, including a flavonol glycoside (1), a megastigmane (2), 2 uncommon cyclohexylethanoids (3,4), and a phenylethanol derivative (5), together with 15 known compounds (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20), have been isolated and characterized in our work.…”

“…Moreover, the fruits and leaves have antibacterial and antiseptic properties and are used to treat wounds and/or against pathogens [8]. Preliminary phytochemical studies on the chemical content of common dogwood drupes have revealed the occurrence of flavonoids, especially as glycosides of quercetin, isorhamnetin, and myricetin [9,10], which could contribute to the free radical scavenging and H 2 O 2 inhibiting activity as reported in the literature [11,12]. However, no studies on the isolation of the secondary metabolites from these drupes have been provided so far; thus, both the existing findings indicating dogberries as a potential source of natural antioxidants and our ongoing studies on small Italian fruits [13] aimed to fully investigate the chemical constituents of C. sanguinea fruits.…”

Quantitative proteomics reveals the antifungal effect of canthin-6-one isolated from Ailanthus altissima against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum in vitro

“…Plants are an important biological resource and contain many compounds that play an important role in metabolic disorders [ 34 ]. Owing to their biodegradability and low toxicity, plant-derived compounds are widely used in the development of biological pesticides.…”