The Application of Untargeted Metabolomic Approaches for the Search of Common Bioavailable Metabolites in Human Plasma Samples from Lippia citriodora and Olea europaea Extracts.

Lippia citriodora and Olea europaea are known for their shared common bioactivities. Although both matrices are rich in similar families of bioactive compounds, their specific phytochemical compounds are mostly different. Since these compounds can be metabolized in the organism, this study hypothesized that common bioavailable metabolites may contribute to their similar bioactive effects. To test this, an acute double-blind intervention study in humans was conducted with blood samples collected at multiple time points. Using an untargeted metabolomic approach based on HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS, 66 circulating metabolites were detected, including 9 common to both extracts, such as homovanillic acid sulfate and glucuronide derivates, hydroxytyrosol sulfate, etc. These common metabolites displayed significantly different Tmax values depending on the source, suggesting distinct metabolization pathways for each extract. The study highlights how shared bioavailable metabolites may underlie similar bioactivities observed between these two plant sources.

Analysis of Lemon Verbena Polyphenol Metabolome and Its Correlation with Oxidative Stress under Glucotoxic Conditions in Adipocyte.

Lemon verbena has been shown to ameliorate obesity-related oxidative stress, but the intracellular final effectors underlying its antioxidant activity are still unknown. The purpose of this study was to correlate the antioxidant capacity of plasma metabolites of lemon verbena (verbascoside, isoverbascoside, hydroxytyrosol, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, homoprotocatechuic acid, and luteolin-7-diglucuronide) with their uptake and intracellular metabolism in hypertrophic adipocytes under glucotoxic conditions. To this end, intracellular ROS levels were measured, and the intracellular metabolites were identified and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector coupled to mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS). The results showed that the plasma metabolites of lemon verbena are absorbed by adipocytes and metabolized through phase II reactions and that the intracellular appearance of these metabolites correlates with the decrease in the level of glucotoxicity-induced oxidative stress. It is postulated that the biotransformation and accumulation of these metabolites in adipocytes contribute to the long-term antioxidant activity of the extract.

Evaluation of Bioactive Effects of Five Plant Extracts with Different Phenolic Compositions against Different Therapeutic Targets.

Plant extracts rich in phenolic compounds have been reported to exert different bioactive properties. Despite the fact that there are plant extracts with completely different phenolic compositions, many of them have been reported to have similar beneficial properties. Thus, the structure-bioactivity relationship mechanisms are not yet known in detail for specific classes of phenolic compounds. In this context, this work aims to demonstrate the relationship of extracts with different phenolic compositions versus different bioactive targets. For this purpose, five plant matrices (Theobroma cacao, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Silybum marianum, Lippia citriodora, and Olea europaea) were selected to cover different phenolic compositions, which were confirmed by the phytochemical characterization analysis performed by HPLC-ESI-qTOF-MS. The bioactive targets evaluated were the antioxidant potential, the free radical scavenging potential, and the inhibitory capacity of different enzymes involved in inflammatory processes, skin aging, and neuroprotection. The results showed that despite the different phenolic compositions of the five matrices, they all showed a bioactive positive effect in most of the evaluated assays. In particular, matrices with very different phenolic contents, such as T. cacao and S. marianum, exerted a similar inhibitory power in enzymes involved in inflammatory processes and skin aging. It should also be noted that H. sabdariffa and T. cacao extracts had a low phenolic content but nevertheless stood out for their bioactive antioxidant and anti-radical capacity. Hence, this research highlights the shared bioactive properties among phenolic compounds found in diverse matrices. The abundance of different phenolic compound families highlights their elevated bioactivity against diverse biological targets.

High global antioxidant protection and stimulation of the collagen synthesis of new anti-aging product containing an optimized active mix.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the in vitro efficacy on antioxidant potential, protection against global oxidative stress, and effect on collagen neosynthesis of minimalist formula (Peptide-C ampoules product) containing 10% natural vitamin C, rice and lupin bio-peptides, hyaluronic acid, and Vichy volcanic mineralizing water (active mix). METHODS: In-tube quantitative tests ("in-tube screening") assessed global antioxidant properties, anti-lipid peroxidation, anti-protein glycosylation, and metalloproteinase inhibition (anti-collagenase, anti-elastase, and anti-hyaluronidase activity) properties of the formula. Protection against oxidative stress was evaluated on human keratinocyte monolayer cultures, and collagen neosynthesis was quantified on fibroblast monolayer cultures treated with supernatants from product-treated reconstructed human epidermis. RESULTS: Product (5% concentration) showed high antioxidant ability (blocking 99.0% oxidation), protection against oxidative stress damage (51.8% lipid peroxidation and 37.8% protein glycosylation decreases), and inhibition of hyaluronidase (21.9%), elastase (47.1%), and collagenase (61.8%). The protective effect was validated on human keratinocyte monolayer cultures in the presence of active mix (0.025%). Oxidative stress (ROS) was reduced by 99.0%, while global oxidative stress (RMS) induced by pollution, UVA radiation, and a combination of both factors was reduced by 48.94%, 8.7%, and 96.28%, respectively. The product increased collagen neosynthesis (11.21%) by cellular dialogue in fibroblasts incubated with product/mix-treated-RHE supernatants. CONCLUSION: The combination of ingredients in the product showed high global antioxidant capacity, as well as a protective effect against oxidative stress induced by UVA, pollution, or both combined factors and an ability to stimulate collagen neosynthesis in in vitro studies, which support the clinical efficacy of this product.

Rosemary Diterpenes and Flavanone Aglycones Provide Improved Genoprotection against UV-Induced DNA Damage in a Human Skin Cell Model.

Overexposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the major cause of a variety of cutaneous disorders, including sunburn, photoaging, and skin cancers. UVB radiation (290-320 nm) causes multiple forms of DNA damage, p53 induction, protein and lipid oxidation, and the generation of harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS). In recent years, botanicals containing polyphenols with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as skin photoprotective agents have emerged. This study evaluated the protective effects of two formulations against UVB-induced damage in a skin cell model. One of the formulations (F2) contained a combination of citrus and olive extracts and the other one (F1) also contained a rosemary extract. The antioxidant capacity of both formulations was estimated by different in vitro methods, and the cell viability, intracellular ROS generation, mitochondrial depolarization, and DNA damage were studied in UVB-irradiated human keratinocytes. Both formulations exerted photoprotective effects on skin cells and decreased mitochondrial depolarization and DNA damage. F1 which contained iridoids, rosemary diterpenes, glycosides and aglycones of citrus flavanones, and monohydroxylated flavones exhibited higher cellular photoprotective effects and mitochondrial membrane potential restoration, as well as an enhanced capacity to decrease DNA double strand breaks and the DNA damage response. In contrast, F2, which contained mostly iridoids, citrus flavanone aglycones, and mono- and dihydroxylated flavones, exhibited a higher capacity to decrease intracellular ROS generation and radical scavenging capacity related to metal ion chelation. Both formulations showed a similar capability to decrease the number of apoptotic cells upon UVB radiation. Based on our results and those of others, we postulate that the stronger capacity of F1 to protect against UVB-induced DNA damage in human keratinocytes is related to the presence of rosemary diterpenes and citrus flavanone aglycones. Nevertheless, the presence of the dihydroxylated flavones in F2 may contribute to inhibiting the generation of metal-related free radicals. To confirm the efficacy of these formulations as potential candidates for oral/topical photoprotection, human trials are required to circumvent the limitations of the cellular model.

The Potential Synergistic Modulation of AMPK by Lippia citriodora Compounds as a Target in Metabolic Disorders.

Lippia citriodora (LC) represents a complex plant-derived source of polyphenols and iridoids that has shown beneficial properties against obesity-related metabolic disorders. The complete extract and its major compound, verbascoside, have shown AMPK-activating capacity in cell and animal models. In this work, we aimed to elucidate the contribution of the different compounds present in the LC extract on the AMPK activation capacity of the whole extract. Semipreparative reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (RP-HPLC-ESI-TOF-MS) was used to identify the major compounds with bioassay-guided fractionation in an adipocyte cell model for the measurement of AMPK activity. Twenty-two compounds were identified and purified almost to homogeneity in 16 fractions, and three compounds, namely verbascoside, luteolin-7-diglucuronide and loganic acid, showed the highest AMPK-activating capacity. The synergy study using the checkerboard and fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) methods exhibited synergistic behavior between loganic acid and luteolin-7-diglucuronide. Molecular docking experiments revealed that these three compounds might act as direct agonists of AMPK, binding to the AMP binding sites of the gamma subunit and/or the different sites of the interaction zones between the gamma and beta subunits. Although our findings conclude that the bioactivity of the extract is mainly due to verbascoside, the synergy found between loganic acid and luteolin-7-diglucuronide deserves further research aimed to develop optimized combinations of polyphenols as a new nutritional strategy against obesity-related metabolic disorders.

Relationships Between Chemical Structure and Antioxidant Activity of Isolated Phytocompounds from Lemon Verbena.

Over the last few years, people have been concerned about the narrow relationship between nutrition and health leading to an increasing demand of nutraceutical products and functional food. Lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora Kunth) has been traditionally used for respiratory, digestive, and muscular diseases, showing effects that are promoted by the antioxidant activity of its phytoconstituents. The antioxidant power of several lemon verbena extracts has been tested but its isolated compounds activity has not been described. The aim of the present work was to isolate phytochemicals from a commercial lemon verbena extract through a semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography approach for further evaluation of its individual antioxidant activity using three different methods. The structure-antioxidant activity relationships revealed the influence of substitutions in the strong antioxidant power exerted by glycosylated phenylpropanoids, in contrast to the low antioxidant capacity showed by iridoids. Development of enriched extracts in these compounds could lead to greater antioxidant effects and improved functional ingredients to prevent chronic diseases.

Antioxidant and Photoprotective Activity of Apigenin and its Potassium Salt Derivative in Human Keratinocytes and Absorption in Caco-2 Cell Monolayers.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, especially types A (UVA) and B (UVB), is one of the main causes of skin disorders, including photoaging and skin cancer. Ultraviolent radiation causes oxidative stress, inflammation, p53 induction, DNA damage, mutagenesis, and oxidation of various molecules such as lipids and proteins. In recent decades, the use of polyphenols as molecules with an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity has increased. However, some of these compounds are poorly soluble, and information regarding their absorption and bioavailability is scarce. The main objective of this study was to compare the intestinal absorption and biological activity of apigenin and its more soluble potassium salt (apigenin-K) in terms of antioxidant and photoprotective capacity. Photoprotective effects against UVA and UVB radiation were studied in human keratinocytes, and antioxidant capacity was determined by different methods, including trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays. Finally, the intestinal absorption of both apigenins was determined using an in vitro Caco-2 cell model. Apigenin showed a slightly higher antioxidant capacity in antioxidant activity assays when compared with apigenin-K. However, no significant differences were obtained for their photoprotective capacities against UVA or UVB. Results indicated that both apigenins protected cell viability in approximately 50% at 5 J/m2 of UVA and 90% at 500 J/m2 of UVB radiation. Regarding intestinal absorption, both apigenins showed similar apparent permeabilities (Papp), 1.81 × 10-5 cm/s and 1.78 × 10-5 cm/s, respectively. Taken together, these results suggest that both apigenins may be interesting candidates for the development of oral (nutraceutical) and topical photoprotective ingredients against UVA and UVB-induced skin damage, but the increased water solubility of apigenin-K makes it the best candidate for further development.