Planta Med 2023; 89(14): 1296
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1773870
Abstracts
Bionorica Phytoneering Award
Wednesday 5th July 2023

“Advanced Analytical Tools Employing Mass Spectrometry for the Investigation of Metabolism Aspects in Natural Products”

Eleni V. Mikropoulou
1   Division of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece
2   Equal contribution
,
Theodora Nikou
1   Division of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece
2   Equal contribution
,
Maria Halabalaki
1   Division of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece
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The current research aims to shed light on the metabolism and bioavailability of bioactive natural products. Taking advantage of state-of-the-art analytical tools and metabolomics, our approach emphasizes on the pharmacokinetics and especially metabolism of two distinguished sources of bioactive compounds, namely Chios mastic gum (CMG) as well as olive tree, olive products and by-products focusing on olive biophenols (OBs). CMG is characterized by the presence of bioactive terpenoids (mainly triterpenic acids e.g. masticadienonic and isomasticadienonic acids) while OBs include a plethora of chemical classes e.g. phenyl alcohols, secoiridoids, lignans. Both, CMG and OBs are well known for their significant health benefits; CMG’s therapeutic value has even been recognized by the EMA [1], while olive oil already possesses two EFSA health claims [2]. However, even though both have been extensively studied for their biological and pharmacological properties, there is a profound lack of data related to respective bioactives metabolism.

In the current research effort an interactive workflow including in vitro-ex-vivo models, animal studies as well as human interventions were employed towards the investigation of metabolism aspects. Special attention was given to the identification of triterpenic acids (CMG) and secoiridoids (OBs) metabolites using untargeted LC-HRMS/MS metabolite profiling approaches.

Novel results were revealed towards the identification of the true active compounds regarding both chemical classes. Certainly, a lot of ground needs to be covered before we can unravel even a glimpse of the colorful puzzle of natural products metabolism.


 

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.


Publication History

Article published online:
16 November 2023

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