Tugsen Buyukyildirim

Background: Varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency are chronic venous disorders involving abnormalities in the venous system. Inflammation, an increase in proteolytic enzymes, and free radicals are important factors that play a role in the varicose vein pathology. Methods: In this study, the antioxidant properties and inhibitor activities of 17 plant extracts used to treat varicose veins in traditional medicine were evaluated against varicose veins-related enzymes (hyaluronidase, elastase, collagenase, lipooxygenase, prolylendopeptidase, and xanthine oxidase). The most effective compounds responsible for the activity of the Helichrysum plicatum subsp. plicatum extract were isolated by open column chromatography techniques. The active compounds were determined to be naringenin, apigenin, and luteolin by spectroscopic methods. In the activity-guided isolation study, the xanthine oxidase enzyme inhibition method was used. Results: The fractions containing naringenin and apigenin (IC₅₀ = 0.269 ± 0.009 µg/mL) and apigenin and luteolin (IC₅₀ = 0.285 ± 0.019 µg/mL) compounds showed synergistic and strong effects against xanthine oxidase and were found to be as active as the positive control allopurinol (IC₅₀ = 0.250 ± 0.006 µg/mL). In the LC-MS/MS analysis of the Helichrysum plicatum extract, quinic acid (22.649 mg compound/g extract), chlorogenic acid (14.573 mg/g extract), isoquercitrin (14.371 mg/g extract), cosmosin (9.885 mg/g extract), and astragalin (11.506 mg/g extract) were detected as the major components. Naringenin, apigenin, and luteolin were detected at concentrations of 1.457, 2.518, and 1.368 mg/g in the extract, respectively. Conclusions: In conclusion, it is predicted that the combination of naringenin, apigenin, and luteolin has a promising use as a conservative treatment option for diseases associated with varicose veins due to their synergistic effects with each other.

Background: Reynoutria japonica Houtt. has been used for inflammatory diseases, skin burns, and high cholesterol in traditional Chinese medicine, and the roots and rhizomes of the plant were registered in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. This study evaluated the enzyme inhibitory activities of R. japonica extracts from Türkiye. Its major phytochemical content was elucidated, molecular interaction studies of the main compounds were conducted, and toxicokinetic predictions and absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination studies were performed with in silico methods. Methods: R. japonica extracts were tested for their enzyme inhibitory activities using an ELISA microplate reader. The phytochemical profile was elucidated by LC-MS QTOF. Docking and other in silico studies evaluated interactions of its main components with cholinesterase, collagenase, and elastase. Results: R. japonica exhibited significant cholinesterase inhibitory effectiveness, while the stem and root extracts showed moderate tyrosinase inhibition. R. japonica leaf (IC₅₀ = 117.20 ± 4.84 g/mL) and flower extracts (IC₅₀ = 111.40 ± 1.45 µg/mL) exhibited considerable elastase activity. R. japonica leaf (IC₅₀ = 171.00 ± 6.76 g/mL) and root (IC₅₀ = 160.00 ± 6.81 g/mL) extracts displayed similar and potent collagenase inhibition. In the LC-MS QTOF analysis, procyanidin dimer, catechin, piceid, torachrysone, and its glucoside isomers were identified as the major components and resveratrol as the minor component. Galloylglucose showed the strongest binding at cholinesterase via key hydrogen bonds, while emodin-6-glucoside and emodin formed stable interactions with elastase. Piceid displayed significant polar and water-mediated contacts with collagenase. These findings underscore the potential of these ligands as protein inhibitors. In silico predictions reveal that emodin possessed the most favorable drug-like properties but posed potential interaction risks. Conclusions: This research represents the first investigation of the bioactivity and phytochemistry of R. japonica grown and documented in 2020 in Türkiye. Our findings point out that R. japonica could be used for cosmetic purposes, and further studies on neurological disorders could be performed.