Effect of different solvents on bioactive phenolics and antioxidant, antimicrobial, and α-glucosidase inhibition activities of Barringtonia acutangula Gaertn. flower extracts

We are happy to announce that Dr. Hoang Le Thuy Thuy Trang and colleagues recently published their work entitled "Effect of different solvents on bioactive phenolics and antioxidant, antimicrobial, and α-glucosidase inhibition activities of Barringtonia acutangula Gaertn. flower extracts” in the Taylor & Francis.

Abstract:

Barringtonia acutangula Gaertn. is a well-known vegetable and medicinal plant. This study assessed solvents’ effect on phytochemical contents and bioactivities of flower extracts. High-polar extracts (ethanol, aqueous) demonstrated much higher phenolic contents (132.21, 240.83 mg gallic acid equivalent per gram of extract, respectively) than non-/medium-polar extracts, with more impressive flavonoid/saponin contents. Aqueous extract was highlighted for antioxidant activity and α-glucosidase inhibition (IC₅₀ = 35.01, 5.63 μg/mL, respectively) on which HPLC analysis revealed gallic acid (1), pyrogallol (2), ilexsaponin A1 (3) as major compounds for 1.83, 1.26, 0.15%, respectively. Phenolics 1 and 2 displayed strong α-glucosidase inhibition (IC₅₀ 6.6 − 18.7 μM), consolidated by molecular docking studies and molecular dynamics simulations, based on their stable complexes with α-glucosidase protein (MAL32) via H-bonds of hydroxy phenol moieties, which was more effective in 2. The study suggested the potency of B. acutangula flower water extract and its phenolics, displaying the need for in-depth investigation.