Interactions between Phenols and Alkylamides of Sichuan Pepper (Zanthoxylum Genus) in α-Glucosidase Inhibition: A Structural Mechanism Analysis

Abstract

The phenols and alkylamides in 26 varieties of Zanthoxylum pericarps (ZP) were comparatively identified, and the contribution of these key components to the inhibition of in vitro α-glucosidase (α-Glu) was confirmed using principal component analysis (PCA) and ingredient recombination models. Additionally, spectrophotometric assays, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and molecular docking (MD) were employed to characterize the interactions among key components in ZP when exposed to α-Glu. Four phenols and hydroxy-α-sanshool (α-SOH), which were recognized as main ingredients, presented an antagonistic effect in the inhibition of α-Glu. 1H NMR demonstrated chemical shifts of certain hydrogens in the B phenolic ring and tetraenyl group, indicating a possible p−π conjugation between phenols and α-SOH. In addition, using MD analysis, the phenol-binding sites were observed to be negatively affected when α-SOH initially interacted with α-Glu. The combined results of the NMR and MD clarified the structural mechanism behind phenol/α-SOH antagonistic behavior in α-Glu inhibition.

Effects of biochar on karst lime soil nutrients, soil microbial communities and physiology of Sichuan pepper plants

“…Sichuan pepper has been used as a culinary ingredient and for medicinal purposes since a long time ago, and is an economicallyimportant shrub species (Cao et al, 2021;. Spice produced from Sichuan pepper has a good anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activity (Liu et al, 2021;Zhang, Huang, Zhang, et al, 2021;Zhang, Liu, Wei, & Gou, 2021;Zhang, Liu, Yang, et al, 2021).…”

“…Hence, Sichuan pepper is used in food and traditional Chinese medicine (Zhang, Huang, Zhang, et al, 2021;Zhang, Liu, Wei, & Gou, 2021;Zhang, Liu, Yang, et al, 2021;Zheng et al, 2021). China's largest Karst valley area is located in the Southwestern region, where soil is shallow, sticky and with low water-holding capacity (Gan, He, & Qin, 2020;Gan, He, Qin, & Li, 2020a).…”

“…It is characterised by a rich pore structure, a high specific surface area and a high capacity of holding water and nutrients (Makoto, Choi, et al, 2011; Makoto, Hirobe, et al, 2011). Biochar acts as an efficient moderator of stable carbon storage and soil fertility as well as a medium for slow release of nutrients (Bruckman, Apaydın Varol, Uzun, & Liu, 2016; Cheng, Lee, Tang, & Zhang, 2019; Zhang, Huang, Zhang, Wan, & Wang, 2021; Zhang, Liu, Wei, & Gou, 2021; Zhang, Liu, Yang, et al, 2021). The biochar pore structure can provide a habitat for soil microbes, improving soil microbial activity (Cheng et al, 2019; Suansa, Al‐Mefarrej, & Alshahrani, 2021).…”

“…Sichuan pepper has been used as a culinary ingredient and for medicinal purposes since a long time ago, and is an economically‐important shrub species (Cao et al, 2021; Chen et al, 2018). Spice produced from Sichuan pepper has a good anti‐inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activity (Liu et al, 2021; Zhang, Huang, Zhang, et al, 2021; Zhang, Liu, Wei, & Gou, 2021; Zhang, Liu, Yang, et al, 2021). Hence, Sichuan pepper is used in food and traditional Chinese medicine (Zhang, Huang, Zhang, et al, 2021; Zhang, Liu, Wei, & Gou, 2021; Zhang, Liu, Yang, et al, 2021; Zheng et al, 2021).…”

Oligomeric Proanthocyanidin Complex from Avocado Seed as A Promising α-glucosidase Inhibitor: Characteristics and Mechanisms

“…As displayed in ▶ Fig. 5 c, the value of maximum velocity V max (the y-intercept) remained the same while Michaelis-Menten constant (K m ) increased with the increasing concentration of ASOPC, indicated that ASOPC is a competitive inhibitor of α-glucosidase [38], where it bound to the active site and directly competed with the substrate from interacting with α-glucosidase. These results are in line with some previous studies [23,39], in which POC inhibited α-glucosidase in a competitive manner.…”