Phytochemical Analysis, Computational Study, and in vitro Assay of Etlingera elatior Inflorescence Extract Towards Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase

Deshanda Kurniawan Prayoga,1,* Dian Ayu Eka Pitaloka,2,* Diah Lia Aulifa,3,* Arif Budiman,4,* Jutti Levita,2,* Supat Jiranusornkul,5,* Binh Phu Nguyen6,* 1Doctoral Program in Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, Indonesia; 2Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, Indonesia; 3Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, Indonesia; 4Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, Indonesia; 5Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; 6School of Mathematics and Statistics, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Jutti Levita, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, 46363, West Java, Indonesia, Email [email protected]: Overproduction of nitric oxide (NO), catalyzed by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), in the gastric mucosa, contributes to the inflammatory process caused by oxidative stress. Current medications for gastric ulcers, such as proton pump inhibitors and histamine-2 receptor antagonists, have been reported to generate adverse reactions.Purpose: To obtain the phytochemical profile of Etlingera elatior inflorescence extract, computational studies, and in vitro assay of the extract towards iNOS.Methods: Fresh E. elatior inflorescence petals collected from West Java, Indonesia, were extracted using ethanol, and their nutritional composition, anthocyanin content, and levels of vitamin C, C3G, and quercetin in the extract were determined. Drug-likeness and ADMET properties were predicted, and the binding affinity and stability of the phytoconstituents towards iNOS were studied using molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation, and in vitro assay of the extract towards human iNOS.Results: The extract contains protein 21.81%, fat 0.99%, carbohydrate 38.27%, water 24.56%, and ash 14.37%. The total anthocyanin and vitamin C levels were 47.535 mg/100 g and 985.250 mg/100 g, respectively. The levels of C3G and quercetin were 0.0007% w/w, 0.004% w/w, and 0.0005% w/w, respectively. Drug-likeness and ADMET properties of the constituents showed that most followed Lipinski Rules of Five (Ro5), with few violations. All phytoconstituents occupied the catalytic site by binding to Glu377, and Trp372, similar to S-ethylisothiourea (SEITU) and quinazoline, the iNOS inhibitors. Among these, the flavylium cation of cyanidin, demethoxycurcumin, C3G, cyanidin, and quercetin showed the best binding affinities. Root mean square deviation (RMSD), root mean square fluctuation (RMSF), solvent-accessible surface area (SASA), and radius of gyration (Rg) graphs confirmed the stability of the complexes. E. elatior inflorescence extract inhibited human iNOS with an IC50 value of 24.718 μg/mL.Conclusion: Etlingera elatior inflorescence may inhibit iNOS activity due to its anthocyanin and flavonoid content. The flavylium cation of cyanidin, demethoxycurcumin, C3G, cyanidin, and quercetin play leading roles in the interaction with iNOS.Keywords: anti-inflammation, cyanidin-3-glucoside, polyphenols, proximate analysis, quercetin