Xanthine oxidase inhibitory study of eight structurally diverse phenolic compounds.

This project was designed to explore the xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory mechanism of eight structurally diverse phenolic compounds [quercetin: C1, quercetin-3-rhamnoside: C2, 4, 5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid: C3, 3, 5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid: C4, 3, 4-O-di-caffeoylquinic acid: C5, 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid (C6), 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid: C7, and caffeic acid: C8]. For this purpose, in-vitro and different computational methods were applied to determine the xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory potential of eight structurally diverse phenolic compounds. The results revealed that phenolic compounds (C1-C8) possess strong to weak XO inhibitory activity. These results were further confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and 1H NMR analysis. Furthermore, computational study results revealed that phenolic compounds (C1-C8) bind with the surrounding amino acids of XO at the molybdenum (MO) site. These in-vitro and in-silico results divulge that phenolic compounds have a strong potential to lower uric acid levels via interacting with the XO enzyme and can be used to combat hyperuricemia.

Role of stilbenes against insulin resistance: A review.

Insulin resistance (IR) is a state characterized by the inability of tissues to utilize blood glucose particularly liver, muscle, and adipose tissues resulting in hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. A close relationship exists between IR and the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Therefore, therapeutic approaches to treat IR also improve T2D simultaneously. Scientific evidence has highlighted the major role of inflammatory cytokines, reactive oxygen species (ROS), environmental & genetic factors, and auto-immune disorders in the pathophysiology of IR. Among therapeutic remedies, nutraceuticals like polyphenols are being used widely to ameliorate IR due to their safer nature compared to pharmaceutics. Stilbenes are considered important metabolically active polyphenols currently under the limelight of research to cope with IR. In this review, efforts are made to elucidate cellular and subcellular mechanisms influenced by stilbenes including modulating insulin signaling cascade, correcting glucose transport pathways, lowering postprandial glucose levels, and protecting ß-cell damage and its effects on the hyperactive immune system and proinflammatory cytokines to attenuate IR. Furthermore, future directions to further the research in stilbenes as a strong candidate against IR are included so that concrete recommendation for their use in humans is made.