Molecular Docking, Metabolite Profile, In Vitro Antioxidant, Anticholinergic, Antidiabetic, and Antiglaucoma Properties of Royal Jelly.
12 affiliations
- 1Department of Bee and Bee Products, Institute of Science, Bingöl University, 12000 Bingöl, Türkiye.
- 2Bee and Natural Products R&D and P&D Application and Research Center, Bingöl University, 12000 Bingöl, Türkiye.
- 3Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bingöl University, 12000 Bingöl, Türkiye.
- 4Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bingöl University, 12000 Bingöl, Türkiye.
- 5Institute of Health Sciences, Ankara University, 06100 Ankara, Türkiye.
- 6Faculty of Agriculture, Vocational School of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Bingöl University, 12000 Bingöl, Türkiye.
- 7Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Dicle University, 21280 Diyarbakır, Türkiye.
- 8Department of Pharmacy Services, Vocational School of Health Services, Harran University, 63000 Şanlıurfa, Türkiye.
- 9Medical Services and Techniques Department, Vocational School of Health Services, Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University, 04100 Ağrı, Türkiye.
- 10Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University, 04100 Ağrı, Türkiye.
- 11Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University Rectorate, 04100 Ağrı, Türkiye.
- 12Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ataturk University, 25240 Erzurum, Türkiye.
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Royal jelly is a biologically active bee product with a complex chemical composition and diverse biological properties. This study aimed to comprehensively characterize the phytochemical composition of royal jelly and evaluate its antioxidant capacity, enzyme-inhibitory abilities, and potential molecular interactions with target enzymes. Methods: The phytochemical profile of royal jelly was characterized using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined spectrophotometrically. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH•, ABTS•+, and DMPD•+ scavenging assays, together with Fe³⁺, CUPRAC, and FRAP reducing methods. Enzyme-inhibitory abilities were assessed against human carbonic anhydrase I and II (hCA I and hCA II), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), α-glucosidase, and α-amylase. Molecular docking analyses were subsequently performed to investigate the interactions of major identified compounds with enzyme active sites. Results: LC-MS/MS analysis revealed a diverse profile of phenolic and flavonoids, including quinic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, apigenin, luteolin, kaempferol, and amentoflavone. Royal jelly exhibited considerable antioxidant activity, with IC₅₀ values of 29.33, 29.20, and 21.65 μg/mL in the DPPH•, ABTS•+, and DMPD•+ scavenging assays, respectively. It also demonstrated notable reducing capacity in Fe³⁺ reduction (0.702 μg/mL), CUPRAC (1.444 μg/mL), and FRAP (0.964 μg/mL) assays. Significant inhibitory ability was observed against hCA I (1.12 μg/mL), hCA II (1.33 μg/mL), AChE (1.44 μg/mL), BChE (1.52 μg/mL), α-glucosidase (2.04 μg/mL), and α-amylase (2.11 μg/mL). Docking analyses indicated that major constituents, particularly quinic acid, could interact with key catalytic residues through hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions. Conclusions: Royal jelly possesses a rich polyphenolic profile accompanied by substantial antioxidant and multi-target enzyme-inhibitory abilities. These findings provide biochemical and molecular evidence supporting the potential of royal jelly as a functional food and nutraceutical ingredient and highlight its value as a source of bioactive compounds for further pharmacological investigation.
Related
- Chemical profiling and in silico evaluation of a Matricaria chamomilla L. extract: exploring its antioxidant, antibacterial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and anticholinergic activities
- New depsidones from Garcinia parvifolia and their antidiabetic, anti-tyrosinase, and antioxidant activities.
- Scleranthus perennis L.: Towards Comprehensive Metabolite Profiling, Antioxidant and Enzyme Inhibitory Activity
- Developmental Dynamics of Bioactive Composition and Biological Activities of Methanolic Extracts from Orange (Citrus sinensis) Peel: Comprehensive Metabolite Profiling, Antioxidant Capacity, and Antibacterial Activity
- Radish Red Anthocyanins Extract Attenuated High-Fat Diet-Induced Aging in Association with Improving Antioxidant Defense and Gut Microbiota–Metabolite Changes in Drosophila Melanogaster
BibTeX
@article{izol2026molecular,
title = {{Molecular Docking, Metabolite Profile, In Vitro Antioxidant, Anticholinergic, Antidiabetic, and Antiglaucoma Properties of Royal Jelly.}},
author = {Ebubekir İzol and Ülkü Yerebasan and Esma Kayaoğlu and Münire Turhan and Mustafa Abdullah Yılmaz and Adem Necip and Rüya Sağlamtaş and Hülya Akıncıoğlu and İlhami Gülçin},
journal = {Metabolites},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.3390/metabo16100729},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42941205},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Molecular Docking, Metabolite Profile, In Vitro Antioxidant, Anticholinergic, Antidiabetic, and Antiglaucoma Properties of Royal Jelly.
AU - Ebubekir İzol
AU - Ülkü Yerebasan
AU - Esma Kayaoğlu
AU - Münire Turhan
AU - Mustafa Abdullah Yılmaz
AU - Adem Necip
AU - Rüya Sağlamtaş
AU - Hülya Akıncıoğlu
AU - İlhami Gülçin
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/29
JO - Metabolites
DO - 10.3390/metabo16100729
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42941205
AB - Background/Objectives: Royal jelly is a biologically active bee product with a complex chemical composition and diverse biological properties. This study aimed to comprehensively characterize the phytochemical composition of royal jelly and evaluate its antioxidant capacity, enzyme-inhibitory abilities, and potential molecular interactions with target enzymes. Methods: The phytochemical profile of royal jelly was characterized using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined spectrophotometrically. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH•, ABTS•+, and DMPD•+ scavenging assays, together with Fe³⁺, CUPRAC, and FRAP reducing methods. Enzyme-inhibitory abilities were assessed against human carbonic anhydrase I and II (hCA I and hCA II), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), α-glucosidase, and α-amylase. Molecular docking analyses were subsequently performed to investigate the interactions of major identified compounds with enzyme active sites. Results: LC-MS/MS analysis revealed a diverse profile of phenolic and flavonoids, including quinic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, apigenin, luteolin, kaempferol, and amentoflavone. Royal jelly exhibited considerable antioxidant activity, with IC₅₀ values of 29.33, 29.20, and 21.65 μg/mL in the DPPH•, ABTS•+, and DMPD•+ scavenging assays, respectively. It also demonstrated notable reducing capacity in Fe³⁺ reduction (0.702 μg/mL), CUPRAC (1.444 μg/mL), and FRAP (0.964 μg/mL) assays. Significant inhibitory ability was observed against hCA I (1.12 μg/mL), hCA II (1.33 μg/mL), AChE (1.44 μg/mL), BChE (1.52 μg/mL), α-glucosidase (2.04 μg/mL), and α-amylase (2.11 μg/mL). Docking analyses indicated that major constituents, particularly quinic acid, could interact with key catalytic residues through hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions. Conclusions: Royal jelly possesses a rich polyphenolic profile accompanied by substantial antioxidant and multi-target enzyme-inhibitory abilities. These findings provide biochemical and molecular evidence supporting the potential of royal jelly as a functional food and nutraceutical ingredient and highlight its value as a source of bioactive compounds for further pharmacological investigation.
SN - 2218-1989
ER -