Potential Effect of Baobab's Polyphenols as Antihyperlipidemic Agents: In Silico Study.

Adansonia digitata L. is an African tree commonly called baobab. This tree is effectively used in traditional medicine to treat cardiovascular disorders. Hyperlipidemia is a well-known cardiovascular risk factor associated with the increased incidence of mortality worldwide. This study aimed to demonstrate the mechanism of baobab polyphenols in the activities of hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase and pancreatic lipase as lipid metabolic enzymes. Molecular docking and an incentive for drug design showed that all the polyphenols in baobab bound to the proteins with higher affinity and a lower binding energy compared with simvastatin as the positive control (ΔG: from -5.5 kcal/mol to -6.5 kcal/mol). The same polyphenols exhibited a considerable binding affinity to pancreatic lipase (ΔG: from -7.5 kcal/mol to -9.8 kcal/mol) in comparison with the control and HMG-CoA reductase. Quercetin showed the best docking score from the selected Baobab polyphenols (ΔG = -9.8 kcal/mol). The root mean square deviation (RMSD) results indicated that stable epicatechin and quercetin complexes were demonstrated with HMG-CoA reductase, and other less stable complexes were developed using rutin and chlorogenic acid. Moreover, the analysis of the root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) simulation results was consistent with that of the RMSD. The RMSF value for all the baobab polyphenols, including the crystal control ligand, was kept between 0.80 and 8.00 Å, similarly to simvastatin, and less than 4.8 Å for pancreatic lipase. Chlorogenic acid, quercetin, epicatechin, and rutin had negative ΔG binding scores from highest to lowest. The same ligands displayed more negative ΔG binding scores than those observed in HMG-CoA reductase and crystal control ligand (methoxyundecyl phosphinic acid) in their simulation with pancreatic lipase. In conclusion, baobab polyphenols interact with HMG-CoA reductase and pancreatic lipase to inhibit their substrate binding and block their activity.

Response of different genotypes of faba bean plant to drought stress.

Drought stress is one of the major abiotic stresses that are a threat to crop production worldwide. Drought stress impairs the plants growth and yield. Therefore, the aim of the present experiment was to select the tolerant genotype/s on the basis of moprpho-physiological and biochemical characteristics of 10 Vicia faba genotypes (Zafar 1, Zafar 2, Shebam, Makamora, Espan, Giza Blanka, Giza 3, C4, C5 and G853) under drought stress. We studied the effect of different levels of drought stress i.e., (i) normal irrigation (ii) mild stress (iii) moderate stress, and (iv) severe stress on plant height (PH) plant-1, fresh weight (FW) and dry weight (DW) plant-1, area leaf-1, leaf relative water content (RWC), proline (Pro) content, total chlorophyll (Total Chl) content, electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content, and activities of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) of genotypes of faba bean. Drought stress reduced all growth parameters and Total Chl content of all genotypes. However, the deteriorating effect of drought stress on the growth performance of genotypes "C5" and "Zafar 1" were relatively low due to its better antioxidant enzymes activities (CAT, POD and SOD), and accumulation of Pro and Total Chl, and leaf RWC. In the study, genotype "C5" and "Zafar 1" were found to be relatively tolerant to drought stress and genotypes "G853" and "C4" were sensitive to drought stress.

Mitigation of adverse effects of heat stress on Vicia faba by exogenous application of magnesium.

The effects of magnesium (Mg) supplementation on the growth performance, oxidative damage, DNA damage, and photosynthetic pigment synthesis, as well as on the activity level of carbonic anhydrase (CA), ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco), and antioxidant enzymes were studied in Vicia faba L. plants exposed to heat stress (HS) and non-heat-stress (non-HS) conditions. Seeds were grown in pots containing a 1:1 mixture of sand and peat, with Mg treatments. The treatments consisted of (i) 0 Mg and non-HS (ambient temperature; control); (ii) 50 mM Mg; (iii) HS (38 °C); and (iv) 50 mM Mg and HS (38 °C). HS was imposed by placing potted plants in an incubator at 38 °C for 48 h. Growth attributes, total chlorophyll (Total Chl), and CA, and Rubisco activity decreased in plants subjected to HS, whereas accumulation of organic solutes [proline (Pro) and glycine betaine (GB)]; superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activity; DNA damage; electrolyte leakage (EL); and malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content all increased. Application of Mg, however, significantly enhanced further proline (Pro), glycinebetaine (GB), SOD, POD, and CAT activity, and decreased DNA damage, EL, and MDA and H2O2 concentrations. These results suggest that adequate supply of Mg is not only essential for plant growth and development, but also improves plant tolerance to HS by suppressing cellular damage induced by reactive oxygen species through the enhancement of the accumulation of Pro and GB, and the actions of antioxidant enzymes.