Analysis and Metabolism of Bioactive Compounds

A special issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmacology and Drug Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2022) | Viewed by 34805

Special Issue Editor

Department of Pharmacology, National and Kapodistrian, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Interests: metabolic studies; protein–ligand interactions; protein aggregation processes in AD; metabolomics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid breakthrough and developments in modern medicine and science, have resulted in drastic improvements in quality of life and a prolonged life expectancy especially in the developed countries, whereas new challenges have emerged due to overpopulation, environmental pressure and lifestyle needs. This has generated an urgent need for modern biopharmaceutical industry to increase its efforts to find new medicines of improved efficacy and safety compared with existing treatments. In the drug discovery and development process, several compounds are evaluated for target affinity and for their “drug-like” properties against the validated therapeutic target. This Special Issue of Metabolites, "Analysis and Metabolism of Bioactive Compounds", will be dedicated to the analysis and metabolism of these bioactive compounds, including synthetic compounds, biological, natural product or synthetic product derived from a natural product. The topics that will be covered by this Special Issue include, but are not limited to: Development of new methodologies for the analysis of bioactive compounds, bioavailability and metabolism of these bioactive compounds, -Omics methodologies employed in the analysis of biological samples, identification of metabolites with biological and/or clinical relevance, analysis of novel bioactive compounds targeting certain diseases. Specific areas will include use of metabolomics approaches towards the identification of disease biomarkers.

Prof. Dr. Anthony Tsarbopoulos
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Bioactive Compounds
  • Bioavailability
  • Metabolism
  • Metabolomics
  • Novel analytical methodologies
  • Novel bioactive compounds targeting certain diseases
  • Disease Biomarkers

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 3515 KiB  
Article
Antioxidant and Neuroprotective Activity of Vitamin E Homologues: In Vitro Study
by Agnieszka Trela-Makowej, Monika Leśkiewicz, Jerzy Kruk, Andrzej Żądło, Agnieszka Basta-Kaim and Renata Szymańska
Metabolites 2022, 12(7), 608; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/metabo12070608 - 30 Jun 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1729
Abstract
Here we present comparative data on the inhibition of lipid peroxidation by a variety of tocochromanols in liposomes. We also show for the first time the potential neuroprotective role of all the vitamin E homologues investigated on the neuronally differentiated human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y [...] Read more.
Here we present comparative data on the inhibition of lipid peroxidation by a variety of tocochromanols in liposomes. We also show for the first time the potential neuroprotective role of all the vitamin E homologues investigated on the neuronally differentiated human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line. α-Tocopherol had nearly no effect in the inhibition of lipid peroxidation, while β-, γ-, and δ-tocopherols inhibited the reaction completely when it was initiated in a lipid phase. Similar effects were observed for tocotrienol homologues. Moreover, in this respect plastochromanol-8 was as effective as β-, γ-, and δ-tocochromanols. When the prenyllipids were investigated in a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test and incorporated into different lipid carriers, the radical oxidation was most pronounced in liposomes, followed by mixed micelles and the micellar system. When the reaction of tocochromanols was examined in niosomes, the oxidation was most pronounced for α-tocopherol and plastochromanol-8, followed by α-tocotrienol. Next, using retinoic acid-differentiated SH-SY5Y cells, we tested the protective effects of the compounds investigated on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cell damage. We showed that tocotrienols were more active than tocopherols in the oxidative stress model. Plastochromanol-8 had a strong inhibitory effect on H2O2-induced lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and H2O2-induced decrease in cell viability. The water-soluble α-tocopherol phosphate had neuroprotective effects at all the concentrations analyzed. The results clearly indicate that structural differences between vitamin E homologues reflect their different biological activity and indicate their potential application in pharmacological treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. In this respect, the application of optimal tocochromanol-carrying structures might be critical. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis and Metabolism of Bioactive Compounds)
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12 pages, 2342 KiB  
Article
An Improved Method to Quantify Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Biological Samples Using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry
by Kyeong-Seog Kim, Yujin Lee, Woori Chae and Joo-Youn Cho
Metabolites 2022, 12(6), 525; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/metabo12060525 - 07 Jun 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2908
Abstract
Gut microbial metabolites, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), are found at multiple locations in the host body and are identified as important metabolites in gut microbiome-associated diseases. Quantifying SCFAs in diverse biological samples is important to understand their roles in host health. This study [...] Read more.
Gut microbial metabolites, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), are found at multiple locations in the host body and are identified as important metabolites in gut microbiome-associated diseases. Quantifying SCFAs in diverse biological samples is important to understand their roles in host health. This study developed an accurate SCFA quantification method by performing gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in human plasma, serum, feces, and mouse cecum tissue. The samples were acidified with hydrochloric acid, and the SCFAs were extracted using methyl tert-butyl ether. In this method, distilled water was selected as a surrogate matrix for the quantification of SCFAs in target biological samples. The method was validated in terms of linearity, parallelism, precision, recovery, and matrix effect. The developed method was further applied in target biological samples. In conclusion, this optimized method can be used as a simultaneous SCFA quantification method in diverse biological samples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis and Metabolism of Bioactive Compounds)
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25 pages, 4936 KiB  
Article
Availability and Metabolic Fate of Olive Phenolic Alcohols Hydroxytyrosol and Tyrosol in the Human GI Tract Simulated by the In Vitro GIDM–Colon Model
by Maria Eleni Sakavitsi, Annelies Breynaert, Theodora Nikou, Stef Lauwers, Luc Pieters, Nina Hermans and Maria Halabalaki
Metabolites 2022, 12(5), 391; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/metabo12050391 - 26 Apr 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2378
Abstract
Hydroxytyrosol (HTyr) and tyrosol (Tyr) are the most well studied phenolic alcohols of olive oil and olive products demonstrating numerous and significant beneficial health effects. However, their activity in the human organism as food bioactives is strongly associated with their bioavailability and metabolism, [...] Read more.
Hydroxytyrosol (HTyr) and tyrosol (Tyr) are the most well studied phenolic alcohols of olive oil and olive products demonstrating numerous and significant beneficial health effects. However, their activity in the human organism as food bioactives is strongly associated with their bioavailability and metabolism, while manifested through their metabolites. Nevertheless, there are limited studies investigating their biotransformation and mainly catabolism by gut microflora under a holistic interpretation close to the human organism. Thus, in the present study, the GastroIntestinal Dialysis (GIDM)-colon model, a continuous flow in vitro dialysis system mimicking physiological conditions during human gastrointestinal digestion, was used to explore the metabolism of HTyr and Tyr as pure compounds. The GIDM–colon model simulates absorption from the lumen to the mucosa, followed by the colon phase using pooled human fecal suspensions. Samples were collected at different time points and analyzed via LC–Orbitrap MS. An integrated approach combining Multivariate Data Analysis (MVA) and thorough dereplication procedures led to the identification of HTyr and Tyr metabolites in different phases (gastric, small intestine, and colon), yielding also valuable information about metabolites kinetics. To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting full spectrometric data of HTyr and Tyr metabolites along with possible transformation mechanisms in the GI tract. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis and Metabolism of Bioactive Compounds)
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20 pages, 2174 KiB  
Article
Effect of Supplementation with Olive Leaf Extract Enriched with Oleuropein on the Metabolome and Redox Status of Athletes’ Blood and Urine—A Metabolomic Approach
by Nikolaos Lemonakis, Vassilis Mougios, Maria Halabalaki, Ioanna Dagla, Anthony Tsarbopoulos, Alexios-Leandros Skaltsounis and Evagelos Gikas
Metabolites 2022, 12(2), 195; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/metabo12020195 - 20 Feb 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2612
Abstract
Oleuropein (OE) is a secoiridoid glycoside occurring mostly in the Oleaceae family and presenting several pharmacological properties, including hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties. Based on these, several dietary supplements containing olive leaf extracts enriched with OE are commercially available in many countries. The current [...] Read more.
Oleuropein (OE) is a secoiridoid glycoside occurring mostly in the Oleaceae family and presenting several pharmacological properties, including hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties. Based on these, several dietary supplements containing olive leaf extracts enriched with OE are commercially available in many countries. The current study aimed to examine the effect of supplementation with such an extract on the serum and urine metabolome of young healthy male athletes. For this purpose, applying a randomized, balanced, double-blind study, nine young, healthy males (physical education students) received either a commercially prepared extract or placebo for one week, followed by a two-week washout period; then, they were subsequently dosed with the alternate scheme (crossover design). Urine and serum samples were analyzed using UHPLC-HRMS, followed by evaluation with several multivariate methods of data analysis. The data were interpreted using a multilevel metabolomic approach (multilevel-sPLSDA) as it was found to be the most efficient approach for the study design. Metabolic pathway analysis of the most affected metabolites revealed that tryptophan and acylcarnitine’s biochemistries were most influenced. Furthermore, several metabolites connected to indole metabolism were detected, which may indicate enhanced serotonin turnover. Phenylethylamine and related metabolites, as well as estrone, were connected to enhanced performance. In addition, possible changes to the lipidemic profile and the blood and urine redox statuses were investigated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis and Metabolism of Bioactive Compounds)
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16 pages, 2990 KiB  
Article
In Vitro Metabolism of Helenalin Acetate and 11α,13-Dihydrohelenalin Acetate: Natural Sesquiterpene Lactones from Arnica
by Franziska M. Jürgens, Matthias Behrens, Hans-Ulrich Humpf, Sara M. Robledo and Thomas J. Schmidt
Metabolites 2022, 12(1), 88; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/metabo12010088 - 17 Jan 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3101
Abstract
Arnica tincture is a herbal medicinal preparation with anti-inflammatory activity which is used traditionally for the topical treatment of blunt injuries as well as rheumatic muscle and joint complaints. Its main bioactive constituents are sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) of the helenalin and 11α,13-dihydrohelenalin types. [...] Read more.
Arnica tincture is a herbal medicinal preparation with anti-inflammatory activity which is used traditionally for the topical treatment of blunt injuries as well as rheumatic muscle and joint complaints. Its main bioactive constituents are sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) of the helenalin and 11α,13-dihydrohelenalin types. Besides the mentioned activity, the tincture and its isolated STLs have antileishmanial activity. In a recent in vivo study, a treatment with Arnica tincture cured cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) in a golden hamster model. CL is a neglected tropical disease affecting more than two million people every year, for which new treatments are urgently needed. In order to use Arnica tincture on open CL lesions of human patients, it is important to know how the constituents are metabolized. Therefore, in vitro metabolism experiments with liver microsomes of different species (rat, pig and human) were performed with the Arnica STLs helenalin acetate and 11α,13-dihydrohelenalin acetate. Phase I and phase II metabolism experiments were performed, as well as a combination of both. Glutathione conjugation plays a major role in the metabolism of these STLs, as could be expected based on previous reports on their reactivity. Besides glutathione conjugates, several other metabolites were formed, e.g., water conjugates and hydroxides. Our results show for the first time a detailed picture of the metabolism of Arnica STLs. The fast and extensive formation of glutathione conjugates makes it unlikely that low absorbed levels of these compounds, as expected after dermal absorption from Arnica tincture, could be of toxicological concern. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis and Metabolism of Bioactive Compounds)
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19 pages, 2027 KiB  
Article
Metabolite and Bioactive Compounds Profiling of Meteora Sea Buckthorn Berries through High-Resolution NMR Analysis
by Aikaterini A. Zompra, Styliani A. Chasapi, Evdokia C. Karagkouni, Eugenia Karamouzi, Panagiotis Panopoulos and Georgios A. Spyroulias
Metabolites 2021, 11(12), 822; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/metabo11120822 - 30 Nov 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1964
Abstract
Sea buckthorn berries (Hippophaë rhamnoides L.) (SB) are considered as a fruit with a high nutritional value with a plethora of bioactive ingredients. The present work focusses on the analysis of the whole NMR metabolic profile of SB berries grown in an [...] Read more.
Sea buckthorn berries (Hippophaë rhamnoides L.) (SB) are considered as a fruit with a high nutritional value with a plethora of bioactive ingredients. The present work focusses on the analysis of the whole NMR metabolic profile of SB berries grown in an organic orchard of Meteora/Greece. In parallel, this study validates/highlights qualitative characteristics of the osmotic processed berries according to the fresh fruit. The composition in bioactive metabolites of SB berries was elucidated through sophisticated high-resolution NMR spectroscopy. The lipophilic profile maintains the vitamins, flavonoid glycosides, phenolic esters and the essential lipid components of SB, while the polar profile reveals a variety of flavonoids, saccharides, organic acids, amino acids and esterified glycosides. This approach towards identification of SB bioactive ingredients may serve as basis for simultaneous profiling and quality assessment and may be applied to monitor fresh food quality regarding other food preservation methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis and Metabolism of Bioactive Compounds)
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27 pages, 1570 KiB  
Article
Using Porcine Jejunum Ex Vivo to Study Absorption and Biotransformation of Natural Products in Plant Extracts: Pueraria lobata as a Case Study
by Joëlle Houriet, Yvonne E. Arnold, Léonie Pellissier, Yogeshvar N. Kalia and Jean-Luc Wolfender
Metabolites 2021, 11(8), 541; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/metabo11080541 - 14 Aug 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2669
Abstract
Herbal preparations (HPs) used in folk medicine are complex mixtures of natural products (NPs). Their efficacy in vivo after ingestion depends on the uptake of the active ingredient, and, in some cases, their metabolites, in the gastrointestinal tract. Thus, correlating bioactivities measured in [...] Read more.
Herbal preparations (HPs) used in folk medicine are complex mixtures of natural products (NPs). Their efficacy in vivo after ingestion depends on the uptake of the active ingredient, and, in some cases, their metabolites, in the gastrointestinal tract. Thus, correlating bioactivities measured in vitro and efficacy in vivo is a challenge. An extract of Pueraria lobata rich in different types of isoflavones was used to evaluate the capacity of viable porcine small intestine ex vivo to elucidate the absorption of HP constituents, and, in some cases, their metabolites. The identification and transport of permeants across the jejunum was monitored by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), combining targeted and untargeted metabolite profiling approaches. It was observed that the C-glycoside isoflavones were stable and crossed the intestinal membrane, while various O-glycoside isoflavones were metabolized into their corresponding aglycones, which were then absorbed. These results are consistent with human data, highlighting the potential of using this approach. A thorough investigation of the impact of absorption and biotransformation was obtained without in vivo studies. The combination of qualitative untargeted and quantitative targeted LC-MS methods effectively monitored a large number of NPs and their metabolites, which is essential for research on HPs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis and Metabolism of Bioactive Compounds)
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19 pages, 1989 KiB  
Article
Combining HPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS and HPLC-SPE-NMR to Monitor In Vitro Vitetrifolin D Phase I and II Metabolism
by Sonja Sturm, Christina Högner, Christoph Seger and Hermann Stuppner
Metabolites 2021, 11(8), 529; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/metabo11080529 - 09 Aug 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2541
Abstract
By combining HPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS and HPLC-SPE-NMR, the in vitro metabolism of vitetrifolin D, a pharmacologically active key molecule from Vitex agnus-castus in liver cell fractions, was investigated. Twenty-seven phase I and phase II metabolites were tentatively identified from the culture broth by HPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS. The [...] Read more.
By combining HPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS and HPLC-SPE-NMR, the in vitro metabolism of vitetrifolin D, a pharmacologically active key molecule from Vitex agnus-castus in liver cell fractions, was investigated. Twenty-seven phase I and phase II metabolites were tentatively identified from the culture broth by HPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS. The subsequent HPLC-SPE-NMR analysis allowed for the unequivocal structural characterization of nine phase I metabolites. Since the preparative isolation of the metabolites was avoided, the substance input was much lower than in conventional strategies. The study did prove that the use of hyphenated instrumental analysis methodologies allows for the successful performance of in vitro metabolism studies, even if the availability of substances is very limited. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis and Metabolism of Bioactive Compounds)
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24 pages, 6300 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Andrographolide Effect on Non-Infected Red Blood Cells Using the 1H-NMR-Based Metabolomics Approach
by Ashraf Ahmad Issa Alapid, Roslaini Abd. Majid, Zaid O. Ibraheem, Ahmed Mediani, Intan Safinar Ismail, Ngah Zasmy Unyah, Sharif Alhassan Abdullahi, Norshariza Nordin, Mohammed Nasiru Wana and Rusliza Basir
Metabolites 2021, 11(8), 486; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/metabo11080486 - 28 Jul 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2495
Abstract
Andrographolide (AG) has been shown to have several medicinal and pharmaceutical effects, such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-malarial activities. Moreover, studies to assess the pharmacological effect of AG on the metabolic changes of uninfected red blood cells (uRBCs) have not yet [...] Read more.
Andrographolide (AG) has been shown to have several medicinal and pharmaceutical effects, such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-malarial activities. Moreover, studies to assess the pharmacological effect of AG on the metabolic changes of uninfected red blood cells (uRBCs) have not yet been investigated. This study aims to evaluate the pharmacological effects of AG compared to chloroquine (CQ) on the metabolic variations of uRBCs in vitro using a proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR)-based metabolomics approach coupled with multivariate data analysis (MVDA). Forty-one metabolites were successfully identified by 1H-NMR. The results of the unsupervised data analysis principal component analysis (PCA) showed ideal differentiation between AG and CQ. PC1 and PC2 accounted for 71.4% and 17.7% of the explained variation, respectively, with a total variance of 89.10%. Based on S-plot and VIP values, a total of 28 and 32 metabolites were identified as biomarkers in uRBCs-AG and uRBCs-CQ, respectively. In uRBCs treated with AG, ten metabolic pathways were determined to be disturbed, including riboflavin metabolism, d-glutamate and d-glutamine metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, glutathione metabolism, proline and arginine metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, citrate cycle, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and pyruvate metabolism as well as alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism. In contrast, in CQ-treated uRBCs, nine affected metabolic pathways were determined, which involved the same metabolic pathways for uRBCs-AG, except for glutathione metabolism. These findings suggest an evident relationship between AG and CQ associated with metabolic changes in intact RBCs after being exposed to the treatment. The metabolomics results could allow useful comprehensive insights into the underlying mechanism of the action of AG and CQ on red blood cells. Consequently, the 1H-NMR-based metabolomics approach was successfully utilized to identify the pharmacological effects of AG and CQ on the metabolic variations of uRBCs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis and Metabolism of Bioactive Compounds)
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12 pages, 521 KiB  
Article
Targeted Metabolomics: The LC-MS/MS Based Quantification of the Metabolites Involved in the Methylation Biochemical Pathways
by Georgia Ntasi, Anthony Tsarbopoulos, Emmanuel Mikros and Evagelos Gikas
Metabolites 2021, 11(7), 416; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/metabo11070416 - 24 Jun 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3603
Abstract
Biochemical methylation reactions mediate the transfer of the methyl group regulating vital biochemical reactions implicated in various diseases as well as the methylation of DNA regulating the replication processes occurring in living organisms. As a finite number of methyl carriers are involved in [...] Read more.
Biochemical methylation reactions mediate the transfer of the methyl group regulating vital biochemical reactions implicated in various diseases as well as the methylation of DNA regulating the replication processes occurring in living organisms. As a finite number of methyl carriers are involved in the methyl transfer, their quantification could aid towards the assessment of an organism’s methylation potential. An Hydrophilic Interaction Chromatography-Liquid Chromatography Multiple Reaction Monitoring (HILIC-LC-MRM) mass spectrometry (MS) methodology was developed and validated according to Food & Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMA), and International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) for the simultaneous determination of nine metabolites i.e., B12, folic acid, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, S-adenosylmethionine, S-adenosylhomocysteine, betaine, phosphocholine, N,N-dimethylglycine, and deoxythymidine monophosphate in human blood plasma. The sample pretreatment was based on a single step Solid-phase extraction (SPE) methodology using C18 cartridges. The methodology was found to accurately quantitate the analytes under investigation according to the corresponding dynamic range proposed in the literature for each analyte. The applicability of the method was assessed using blood donor samples and its applicability demonstrated by the assessment of their basal levels, which were shown to agree with the established basal levels. The methodology can be used for diagnostic purposes as well as for epigenetic screening. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis and Metabolism of Bioactive Compounds)
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15 pages, 1241 KiB  
Article
Urinary Elimination of Ecdysterone and Its Metabolites Following a Single-Dose Administration in Humans
by Gabriella Ambrosio, Tasha Yuliandra, Bernhard Wuest, Monica Mazzarino, Xavier de la Torre, Francesco Botrè, Patrick Diel, Eduard Isenmann and Maria Kristina Parr
Metabolites 2021, 11(6), 366; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/metabo11060366 - 09 Jun 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4129
Abstract
Ecdysterone is a phytosteroid widely discussed for its various pharmacological, growth-promoting, and anabolic effects, mediated by the activation of estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta). Performance-enhancement in sports was demonstrated recently, and ecdysterone was consequently included in the Monitoring Program, to detect potential patterns of [...] Read more.
Ecdysterone is a phytosteroid widely discussed for its various pharmacological, growth-promoting, and anabolic effects, mediated by the activation of estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta). Performance-enhancement in sports was demonstrated recently, and ecdysterone was consequently included in the Monitoring Program, to detect potential patterns of misuse in sport. Only few studies on the pharmacokinetics of ecdysterone in humans have been reported so far. In this study, post-administration urine samples in twelve volunteers (single dose of 50 mg of ecdysterone) were analyzed using dilute-and-inject liquid-chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Identification and quantitation of ecdysterone and of two metabolites, 14-deoxy-ecdysterone and 14-deoxy-poststerone, was achieved. Ecdysterone was the most abundant analyte present in post-administration urine samples, detected for more than 2 days, with a maximum concentration (Cmax) in the 2.8–8.5 h urine (Cmax = 4.4–30.0 µg/mL). The metabolites 14-deoxy-ecdysterone and 14-deoxy-poststerone were detected later, reaching the maximum concentrations at 8.5–39.5 h (Cmax = 0.1–6.0 µg/mL) and 23.3–41.3 h (Cmax = 0.1–1.5 µg/mL), respectively. Sex-specific differences were not observed. Cumulative urinary excretion yielded average values of 18%, 2.3%, and 1.5% for ecdysterone, 14-deoxy-ecdysterone, and 14-deoxy-poststerone, respectively. Ecdysterone and 14-deoxy-ecdysterone were excreted following first-order kinetics with half-lives calculated with three hours, while pharmacokinetics of 14-deoxy-poststerone needs further evaluation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis and Metabolism of Bioactive Compounds)
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23 pages, 2262 KiB  
Article
Metabolomics of Pigmented Rice Coproducts Applying Conventional or Deep Eutectic Extraction Solvents Reveal a Potential Antioxidant Source for Human Nutrition
by Millena Cristina Barros Santos, Nathalie Barouh, Erwann Durand, Bruno Baréa, Mélina Robert, Valérie Micard, Valérie Lullien-Pellerin, Pierre Villeneuve, Luiz Claudio Cameron, Elizabeth P. Ryan, Mariana Simões Larraz Ferreira and Claire Bourlieu-Lacanal
Metabolites 2021, 11(2), 110; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/metabo11020110 - 15 Feb 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3170
Abstract
Rice bran (RB) corresponds to the outer layers of whole grain rice and contains several phenolic compounds (PCs) that make it an interesting functional food ingredient. PC richness is enhanced in pigmented RB varieties and requires effective ways of extraction of these compounds. [...] Read more.
Rice bran (RB) corresponds to the outer layers of whole grain rice and contains several phenolic compounds (PCs) that make it an interesting functional food ingredient. PC richness is enhanced in pigmented RB varieties and requires effective ways of extraction of these compounds. Therefore, we investigated conventional and deep eutectic solvents (DES) extraction methods to recover a wide array of PCs from red and black RB. The RB were extracted with ethanol/water (60:40, v/v) and two DES (choline chloride/1.2-propanediol/water, 1:1:1 and choline chloride/lactic acid, 1:10, mole ratios), based on Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) components. Besides the quantification of the most typical phenolic acids of cereals, nontargeted metabolomic approaches were applied to PCs profiling in the extracts. Globally, metabolomics revealed 89 PCs belonging to flavonoids (52%), phenolic acids (33%), other polyphenols (8%), lignans (6%) and stilbenes (1%) classes. All extracts, whatever the solvents, were highly concentrated in the main phenolic acids found in cereals (37–66 mg/100 g in black RB extracts vs. 6–20 mg/100 g in red RB extracts). However, the PC profile was highly dependent on the extraction solvent and specific PCs were extracted using the acidic DES. The PC-enriched DES extracts demonstrated interesting DPPH scavenging activity, which makes them candidates for novel antioxidant formulations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis and Metabolism of Bioactive Compounds)
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