Rapid characterisation of xanthine oxidase inhibitors from the flowers of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. Using metabolomics approach

• Published in: Phytochemical analysis Vol. 33; no. 1; pp. 12 - 22
• Main Authors: Loh, Khye Er, Chin, Yong Sin, Safinar Ismail, Intan, Tan, Hui Yin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-01-2022
• Subjects: 1H‐NMR metabolomics; Acetic acid; additive interaction; Antioxidants; Chrysanthemum - chemistry; Chrysanthemum morifolium; Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat; Data analysis; Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology; Ethyl acetate; Flavonoids; Flowers; Flowers - chemistry; Gout; Gout Suppressants - pharmacology; Hyperuricemia; Hypoxanthine; Inhibitors; Kaempferol; Metabolites; Metabolomics; Multivariate analysis; multivariate data analysis; Natural resources; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Oxidation; p-Hydroxybenzoic acid; Phenolic compounds; Phenols; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Scavenging; Uric acid; Xanthine oxidase; Xanthine Oxidase - antagonists & inhibitors; xanthine oxidase inhibition; multivariate data analysis; xanthine oxidase inhibition; 1H-NMR metabolomics; additive interaction; Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat
• ISSN: 0958-0344; 1099-1565
• DOI: 10.1002/pca.3057

Introduction
Hyperuricemia is the key risk factor for gout, in which the elevated uric acid is attributed to the oxidation of hypoxanthine and xanthine to uric acid by xanthine oxidase (XO). Adverse effects of the current treatments lead to an urgent need for safer and more effective alternative from natural resources.
Objective
To compare the metabolite profile of Chrysanthemum morifolium flower fraction with that of its detannified fraction in relation to XO inhibitory activity using a rapid and effective metabolomics approach.
Methods
Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H‐NMR)‐based metabolomics approach coupled with multivariate data analysis was utilised to characterise the XO inhibitors related to the antioxidant properties, total phenolic, and total flavonoid contents of the C. morifolium dried flowers.
Results
The highest XO inhibitory activity, 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, total phenolic and flavonoid content with strong positive correlation between them were observed in the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction. Detannified EtOAc showed higher XO inhibitory activity than non‐detannified EtOAc fraction. A total of 17 metabolites were tentatively identified, of which three namely kaempferol, 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid and apigenin, could be suggested to be responsible for the strong XO inhibitory activity. Additive interaction between 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid and apigenin (or kaempferol) in XO inhibition was demonstrated in the interaction assay conducted.
Conclusion
Chrysanthemum morifolium dried flower‐part could be further explored as a natural XO inhibitor for its anti‐hyperuricemic potential. Metabolomics approach served as an effective classification of plant metabolites responsible for XO inhibitory activity, and demonstrated that multiple active compounds can work additively in giving combined inhibitory effects.
Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H‐NMR)‐based metabolomics approach coupled with multivariate data analysis was utilised to compare the metabolite profile of Chrysanthemum morifolium flower fraction with that of its detannified fraction in relation to xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory activity. Detannified ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction showed higher XO inhibitory activity than non‐detannified EtOAc fraction. Kaempferol, 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid and apigenin were suggested to be responsible for the XO inhibitory activity. Additive interaction between 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid and apigenin (or kaempferol) in XO inhibition was demonstrated.