Protease-inhibiting, molecular modeling and antimicrobial activities of extracts and constituents from Helichrysum foetidum and Helichrysum mechowianum (compositae)

Research article

Fanny-Aimée Essombe Malolo¹, Achille Bissoue Nouga², Antoine Kakam², Katrin Franke⁴, Lidwine Ngah¹, Otavio Jerome Flausino³, Emmanuel Mpondo Mpondo¹, Fidele Ntie-Kang^4*, Jean Claude Ndom^1*, Vanderlan da Silva Bolzani³ and Ludger Wessjohann^5*

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  Corresponding authors: Fidele Ntie-Kang [email protected] – Jean C Ndom [email protected] – Ludger Wessjohann [email protected]

Author Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacy, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon

² Department of Chemistry, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon

³ Química, Departamento de Química Orgânica, Núcleo de Bioensaio, Biossíntese e Ecofisiologia de Produtos Naturais-NuBBE, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Instituto de Rua Prof. Francisco Degni s/n, Araraquara 14.800-900, São Paulo, Brazil

⁴ Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, Halle (Saale), D-06120, Germany

⁵ Chemical and Bioactivity Information Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon

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Chemistry Central Journal 2015, 9:32 
doi:10.1186/s13065-015-0108-1

Published: 30 May 2015

Abstract (provisional)

Background Helichrysum species are used extensively for stress-related ailments and
as dressings for wounds normally encountered in circumcision rites, bruises, cuts
and sores. It have been also reported that Helichysum species are used to relief abdominal
pain, heart burn, cough, cold, wounds, female sterility, menstrual pain. Results From
the extracts of Helichrysum foetidum (L.) Moench, six known compounds were isolated
and identified. They were 7, 4?-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-flavanone (1), 6?-methoxy-2?,4,
4?-trihydroxychalcone (2), 6?-methoxy-2?,4-dihydroxychalcone -4?-O-?-D-glucoside (3),
apigenin (4), apigenin-7-O-?-D-glucoside (5), kaur-16-en-18-oic acid (6) while two
known compounds 3,5,7-trihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone (12), 4,5-dicaffeoyl quinic acid
(13) together with a mixture of phytosterol were isolated from the methanol extract
of Helichrysum . mechowianum Klatt. All the compounds were characterized by spectroscopic
and mass spectrometric methods, and by comparison with literature data. Both extracts
and all the isolates were screened for the protease inhibition, antibacterial and
antifungal activities. In addition, the phytochemical profile of both species was
investigated by ESI-MS experiments. Conclusions These results showed that the protease
inhibition assay of H. foetidum could be mainly attributed to the constituents of
flavonoids glycosides (3, 5) while the compound (13) from H. mechowianum contribute
to the stomach protecting effects. In addition, among the antibacterial and antifungal
activities of all the isolates, compound (6) was found to possess a potent inhibitor
effect against the tested microorganisms. The heterogeneity of the genus is also reflected
in its phytochemical diversity. The differential bioactivities and determined constituents
support the traditional use of the species. Molecular modelling was carried out by
computing selected descriptors related to drug absorption, distribution, metabolism,
excretion and toxicity (ADMET). Graphical abstract Compounds isolated from Helichrysum
species (Compositae).

Graphical abstract