Inhibition of Oxidative Stress and Skin Aging-Related Enzymes by Prenylated Chalcones and Other Flavonoids from Helichrysum teretifolium

Abstract

Ten flavonoid-related structures viz. heliteretifolin ( 1), isoxanthohumol ( 2), 2',4',6'-trihydroxy-3'-prenylchalcone ( 3), isoglabranin ( 4), glabranin ( 5), 7-methoxy-isoglabranin ( 6), quercetin ( 7), 4'-methoxyquercetin ( 8), 4'-methoxykaempferol ( 9) and mosloflavone ( 10) were isolated from a H. teretifolium methanolic extract and identified. One of them (compound 1) is reported for the first time from a natural source, while compounds 6, 8– 10 were isolated for the first time from the genus Helichrysum. The total extract of H. teretifolium showed potent antioxidant activity. When tested for total antioxidant capacity compound 3 possesses moderate biological activity compared to 2, which displayed some of the highest TEAC values (4529.01 ± 2.44; 4170.66 ± 6.72) µM TE/g, respectively. Compounds 7 and 8 demonstrated the highest inhibitory activities on Fe ²⁺-induced lipid peroxidation (IC ₅₀ = 2.931; 6.449 µg/mL); tyrosinase (8.092; 27.573) and elastase (43.342; 86.548). Additionally, the total antioxidant capacities measured as FRAP (4816.31 ± 7.42; 3584.17 ± 0.54) µM AAE/g, and ORAC for hydroxyl radical (7.265 ± 0.71; 6.779 ± 3.40) × 10 ⁶ and peroxyl radical (17.836 ± 2.90; 12.545 ± 5.07) × 10 ³ µM TE/g were also observed for compounds 7 and 8, respectively. In conclusion, H. teretifolium total extract represents a rich source of bioactive constituents with potent antioxidant and moderate anti-tyrosinase and anti-elastase activities that can help to avert accumulation of free radicals in the body, and could therefore be good candidates for the prevention and/or treatment of skin-related conditions, such as aging. This is the first scientific report on the chemical and biological profile of H. teretifolium.