Quercetin as the primary xanthine oxidase inhibitor compound in Maclura tricuspidata leaf

Abstract

Maclura tricuspidata (MT) leaf demonstrated various health benefits, notably the inhibition of xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity, which is crucial in the management of hyperuricaemia and many diseases related to oxidative stress. This study aimed to identify the primary compound responsible for this inhibitory effect. Through a systematic investigation, MT leaf extracts were subjected to solvent-solvent partitioning using ethyl acetate, n-hexane, n-butanol, and dichloromethane. Further purification involved adsorption and desorption using Amberlite XAD-2 resin, followed by column chromatography on Silica Gel and Sephadex LH-20. The purified compounds were analysed using UPLC-QTOF-MS coupled with NMR spectroscopy. Our findings identified quercetin, a phenolic compound, as the most significant inhibitor of XOD activity in MT leaf, with an IC₅₀ value of 212.92 μg/ml. This is the first report of purifying and identifying a single compound responsible for XOD inhibition in MT.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Maclura tricuspidata leaf
• xanthine oxidase inhibitor
• UPLC-QTOF-MS
• NMR
• quercetin

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Jeonbuk National University for providing the facilities for this experiment

Disclosure statement

Regarding the research, writing, and publication of this paper, the author(s) have declared that they have no potential conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.