Tyrosinase inhibitory activity, molecular docking studies and antioxidant potential of chemotypes of Lippia origanoides (Verbenaceae) essential oils

PLoS One. 2017 May 1;12(5):e0175598. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175598. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

The essential oils (EOs) of the aerial parts of Lippia origanoides (LiOr), collected in different localities of the Amazon region, were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and CG-MS. Principle component analysis (PCA) based on chemical composition grouped the oils in four chemotypes rich in mono- and sesquiterpenoids. Group I was characterized by 1,8-cineole and α-terpineol (LiOr-1 and LiOr-4) and group II by thymol (LiOr-2). The oil LiOr-3 showed β-caryophyllene, α-phellandrene and β-phellandrene as predominant and LiOr-5 was rich in (E)-nerolidol and β-caryophyllene. All samples were evaluated for antioxidant activity and inhibition of tyrosinase in vitro and in silico. The highest antioxidant activity by the DPPH free radical method was observed in LiOr-2 and LiOr-5 oils (132.1 and 82.7 mg TE∙mL-1, respectively). The tyrosinase inhibition potential was performed using L-tyrosine and L-DOPA as substrates and all samples were more effective in the first step of oxidation. The inhibition by samples LiOr-2 and LiOr-4 were 84.7% and 62.6%, respectively. The samples LiOr-1, LiOr-4 and LiOr-5 displayed an interaction with copper (II) ion with bathochromic shift around 15 nm. In order to elucidate the mechanism of inhibition of the main compounds, a molecular docking study was carried out. All compounds displayed an interaction between an oxygen and Cu or histidine residues with distances less than 4 Å. The best docking energies were observed with thymol and (E)-nerolidol (-79.8 kcal.mol-1), which suggested H-bonding interactions with Met281 and His263 (thymol) and His259, His263 ((E)-nerolidol).

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / chemistry
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Chelating Agents / chemistry
  • Chelating Agents / pharmacology
  • Chromatography, Gas
  • Copper / chemistry
  • Distillation
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Levodopa / metabolism
  • Lippia / chemistry*
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase / metabolism
  • Oils, Volatile / chemistry
  • Oils, Volatile / pharmacology*
  • Phytotherapy
  • Plant Oils / chemistry
  • Plant Oils / pharmacology*
  • Principal Component Analysis
  • Spectrum Analysis

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Chelating Agents
  • Oils, Volatile
  • Plant Oils
  • Levodopa
  • Copper
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) CAPES for granting master’s scholarship (APS); 2013 L'Oréal-Unesco-ABC For Women In Science Awards (JKRS); CAPES (047/2012) "Pró-Amazônia: Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade" Program (JGSM). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.