Ethnopharmacological relevance: Mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaf is a well-known herbal medicine in China for thousands of years. Mulberry leaf can regulate arachidonic acid (ARA) metabolism disorder in obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the active ingredients involved in this process are still unclear.
Aim of study: To explore the potential active ingredients in mulberry leaf against ARA metabolism disorder.
Materials and methods: In this research, an efficient method combining affinity ultrafiltration, molecular docking, and network pharmacology was developed and applied to explore cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) inhibitors from mulberry leaf.
Results: A total 17 potential inhibitors were screened by affinity ultrafiltration assay and identified by high resolution mass spectrometry. In addition, 8 bioactive ingredients were obtained after re-evaluated by molecular docking and network pharmacology, and their inhibitory activities on COX-2 and 5-LOX were confirmed by in vitro inhibitory assays. The results of cell experiments showed that the expressions of COX-2 and 5-LOX were significantly suppressed by neochlorogenic acid, rutin, isoquercetin, and (-)-syringaresinol-4-O-glucoside .
Conclusion: Neochlorogenic acid, rutin, isoquercetin, and (-)-syringaresinol-4-O-glucoside may be the potential material basis of mulberry leaf in the regulation of ARA metabolism of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Keywords: 5-lipoxygenase; affinity ultrafiltration; cyclooxygenase-2; mulberry leaf; potential inhibitor.
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