Open AccessAbyssinone V, a prenylated flavonoid isolated from the stem bark of Erythrina melanacantha increases oxidative stress and decreases stress resistance in Caenorhabditis elegans
Author(s) -
Koch Karoline,
Schulz Gabriel,
Döring Wera,
Büchter Christian,
Havermann Susannah,
Mutiso Patrick Chalo,
Passreiter Claus,
Wätjen Wim
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 2042-7158
pISSN - 0022-3573
DOI - 10.1111/jphp.13074
Subject(s) - oxidative stress , erythrina , flavonoid , caenorhabditis elegans , biology , reactive oxygen species , trolox , traditional medicine , biochemistry , antioxidant , chemistry , botany , medicine , antioxidant capacity , gene
Objectives Recent studies showed that distinct extracts of Erythrina species used in the traditional medicine of sub‐Saharan Africa are protective against stress conditions. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms as well as relevant compounds remain unclear. Methods We used the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans to investigate compounds isolated from the stem bark of Erythrina melanacantha (abyssinone V ( 1 ), abyssinon‐4′O‐methylether ( 2 ), sigmoidin B‐4′O‐methylether ( 3 ), glabranin ( 4 ), 8‐prenylnaringenin ( 5 ), citflavanone ( 6 ), exiguaflavanone ( 7 ) and homoeriodictyol ( 8 )). Antioxidative capacity in vitro (trolox equivalent antioxidative capacity assay) and modulation of oxidative stress in vivo (2′, 7′‐dichlorofluorescein assay) were investigated; stress resistance was analysed using the nucleic acid stain SYTOX green. Key findings None of the prenylated flavonoids caused protection against thermal stress; in contrast, most of the compounds ( 1 , 4 , 5 , 8 ) decreased stress resistance. None of the compounds decreased the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, but abyssinone V ( 1 ) caused an increase in oxidative stress. In line with these results, none of these compounds showed radical‐scavenging effects in vitro . Conclusions The stem bark of E. melanacantha contains various prenylated flavonoids, but no compound protected C. elegans against stress conditions. In contrast, abyssinone V increases oxidative stress and reduces stress resistance in this model organism.