Cucurbitane-Type Triterpene Glycosides from Momordica charantia and Their α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities

Ya Gao 1,2 · Jian-Chao Chen 1 · Xing-Rong Peng 1 · Zhong-Rong Li 1 · Hai-Guo Su 1,2 · Ming-Hua Qiu 1,2,3

Abstract

Keywords Momordica charantia · Cucurbitane-type triterpene glycosides · α-Glucosidase inhibitory activity

Graphic Abstract

1 Introduction

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a type of metabolic disorder caused by insuき cient insulin secretion or insulin utilization disorder, and is marked by persistent hyperglycemia [ 1]. The latest edition of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF)'s Diabetes Atlas estimates that, in 2019, about 463 million adults were living with DM around the world, and 11.3% of global deaths were due to DM [ 2]. Moreover, it can overwhelm the social and economic welfare of all countries, regardless of their economic level. Therefore, the prevention and treatment of DM is essential. In modern medicine, there are many oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) used to treat DM, however, they also have diあ erent adverse eあ ects including gastrointestinal upset, lactic acidosis, characteristic hepatocyte injury, dizziness, acute hypoglycemia, and even death [ 3, 4]. Therefore, screening the new hypoglycemic drugs with high eき ciency and low toxicity from the natural products of plants is urgently required. In China, ancient books have recorded many Chinese herbs used in the treatment of DM, among which Momordica charantia (Cucurbitaceae) was very popular and had an incredible hypoglycemic eあ ect. Therefore, M. charantia has great research potential in reducing blood sugar and is a hot spot in modern phytochemical research.

Momordica charantia is a traditional medicinal and edible plant, which has a long history of use in developing countries. Modern phytochemistry research shows that both crude extracts and secondary metabolites (including polysaccharides, triterpenes, saponins, proteins, fl avonoids, alkaloids, and steroids, etc.) of M. charantia possess antidiabetic activity [ 5- 10]. Thereinto, cucurbitane-type triterpenoids are the main bioactive ingredients in M. charantia, which can control blood sugar through multiple mechanisms of action (such as PPAR- γ activator, PTP1B inhibitor, and α-glucosidase inhibitor, etc.) [ 11, 12]. To date, more than 300 kinds of cucurbitane-type triterpenoids have been identifi ed, and some of them showed prominent biological activity [ 6, 10, 13]. Based on this, we conducted further excavations, hoping to fi nd new cucurbitane-type triterpenoids with good hypoglycemic activity.

2 Results, Discussion and Conclusion

Phytochemical investigation of the fruits of M. charantia resulted in the isolation of fi ve new compounds, charantosides H ( 1), J ( 2), K ( 3), momorcharacoside A ( 4), and goyaglycoside- L ( 5), by repeated column chromatography (CC) (Fig. 1). Meanwhile, fi ve known compounds ( 6-10) were isolated and identifi ed, on the basis of comparison of obtained values with literature values, as (19 R,23 E)-5 β,19-epoxy-19-methoxycucurbita-6,23,25-trien-3 β-ol 3- O- β- D-allopyranoside ( 6) [ 14], charantoside I ( 7) [ 15], charantoside III ( 8) [ 15], momordicoside K ( 9) [ 16], and 7 β,25-dimethoxycucurbita-5(6),23( E)-dien-19-al 3- O- β- Dallopyranoside ( 10) [ 17] (Fig. 1), respectively.

All of the fi ve new compounds were considered as monoglycosides based on the IR absorption bands of a glycosidic function (e.g., 1: νmax3426, 1084, 1033 cm -1 ) [ 15, 18] and an anomeric proton signal of the glycosyl moiety observed in their 1 H NMR spectra. After acid hydrolysis, the sugars of 4 and 5 were identifi ed as D-allose and D-glucose by comparing their TLC and specifi c rotation with the corresponding authentic sample. The predicted structures for these new compounds as depicted below were supported by analysis of the 1 H- 1 H COSY, HMBC, and NOESY data (Figs. 2 and 3), in addition to 13 C-DEPT, and HMQC data.

Compound 1 was obtained as white amorphous powder. The molecular formula C38H62O9was deduced from its HRESIMS (positive-ion mode) data (685.4295 [M + Na] + ), indicated eight degrees of unsaturation. The 1 H NMR spectrum of 1 (Table 1) showed signals assignable to seven methyl groups [ δ H 1.73, 1.69, 1.47, 1.05, 0.88, 0.86, 0.84], two methoxy groups [ δH3.58, 3.29], three olefi nic protons [ δH6.27 (1H, dd, J = 1.8, 9.0 Hz), 5.48 (1H, dd, J = 3.6, 9.6 Hz), 5.22 (1H, d, J = 8.4 Hz)], and an anomeric proton [ δH5.36 (1H, d, J = 7.8 Hz, H-1′)]. The 13 C NMR (Table 2) showed 38 carbon signals. The DEPT spectrum exhibited nine methyls, eight methylenes, fi fteen methines, and six quaternary carbons. And 13 C NMR spectrum showed olefi nic carbons appeared at δC135.1, 134.4, 129.1, and 127.7. The NMR data of 1 were closely similar to those of (19 R,23 R)-5 β,19-epoxy-19,23-dimethoxycucurbita-6,24-dien-3 β-ol 3- O- β- D-allopyranoside (charantoside II) [ 15] except for the signals due to the stereochemistry at C-19. And that Δ δ C values [ δC(charantoside II) - δC( 1)] for the relevant signals were calculated as 1.7 (C-5), - 7.3 (C-8), - 0.7 (C- 9), 2.8 (C-10), 1.6 (C-11) and -1.4 (C-19) from the 13 C NMR data of charantoside II and 1, which were feckly consistent with the Δ δCvalues [ δC(19 R) - δC(19 S)] of 1.8 (C-5), - 7.8 (C-8), - 0.7 (C-9), 2.6 (C-10), 1.8 (C-11) and -2.6 (C-19) calculated from the 13 C NMR data of 5 β,(19 R)- and 5 β,(19 S)-epoxy-19,23-dimethoxycucurbita-6,24-dien-3β-ol [ 19]. Therefore, compound 1 has the ( S)-confi guration at C-19, and the ROESY correlation (Fig. 3) of H-8/H-19 confi rmed the above deduction [ 20]. The actual connection positions were further established on the basis of HMBC correlations (Fig. 2) between H-1′ ( δH5.36) of the sugar moiety and C-3 ( δC84.7) of the aglycon group. And we found that the NMR data of the sugar moiety of 1 was basically consistent with 4, which corroborates the presence of a D-allose. In addition, long-range correlations were also observed at 19-methoxyl protons ( δH3.58)/C-19 ( δC113.8), and 23-methoxyl protons ( δH3.29)/C-23 ( δC74.6). Therefore, the molecular formula of 1, along with the 1D and 2D spectroscopic data illustrated that the structure of 1 could be assigned as (19 S,23 R)-5 β,19-epoxy-19,23-dimethoxycucurbita-6,24-dien-3 β-ol 3- O- β- Dallopyranoside, named charantoside H.

Compound 2 was obtained as white solid. It showed a quasi-molecular ion at 685.4293([M + Na] + ) in the HRESIMS (positive-ion mode) spectrum and had the same molecular formula C38H62O9as 1, which also possessed eight degrees of unsaturation. Detailed analysis of the 1 H, 13 C NMR, and DEPT spectra (Tables 1 and 2) of compound 2, which showed heavily resemblance in all signals to those of (19 S,23 R)-5 β,19-epoxy-19,23-dimethoxycucurbita-6,24-dien-3 β-ol 3- O- β- D-allopyranoside (charantoside H, 1) except that D-allose of 1 were replaced by D-glucose in 2. In the 13 C NMR spectrum of compound 2, an anomeric carbon atom ( δ C 105.2) and a series of oxygenated carbon signals ( δC78.6, 77.8, 76.1, 71.8, and 62.9) were in line with 5, confi rmed the presence of a β- D-glucopyranosyl residue [ 15]. The 1 H- 1 H COSY and HMBC correlations of compound 1 and 2 were similar, but their ROESY spectra (Fig. 3) showed the diあ erent correlations between H-3′/H-5′, further proved the type of sugar moiety of 2. Similarly, the absolute confi guration of C-19 ( S) in 2 was confi rmed by ROESY correlation of H-8/H-19. Based on the above corroboration, the structure of compound 2 was identifi ed as (19 S,23 R)-5 β,19-epoxy-19,23-dimethoxycucurbita-6,24-dien-3 β-ol 3- O- β- D-glucopyranoside, named charantoside J.

Table 1 1 H NMR spectroscopic data of compounds 1- 5 in pyridine-d5 [δ in ppm, J in Hz]

Compound 3 was obtained as white amorphous powder. It revealed a quasi-molecular ion at 685.4296 ([M + Na] + ) in the HRESIMS (positive-ion mode) spectrum and had the same molecular formula C38H62O 9 as 1. According to the1H,13C NMR, and DEPT spectra (Tables 1 and 2) of 3, which were also similar to those of charantoside H ( 1) except for the signals due to the stereochemistry at C-23. Compound 3 exhibited 1 H NMR signals (Table 1) for the side-chain protons at δ 1.03 (3H, d, J = 5.6 Hz, a secondary methyl), 1.69 and 1.73 (each 3H, s, two vinylic methyls), 3.29 (3H, s, an O-methyl), 4.10 (1H, m, an allylic oxymethine), and 5.15 (1H, dt, J = 1.6, 9.6 Hz, an olefi nic methine). Detailed comparisons of its 13 C NMR data (Table 2) with those of compound 1, the Δ δCvalues [Δ δC( 1) - Δ δC( 3)] for the side-chain signals were calculated as - 1.1 (C-20), - 1.0 (C-21), + 0.3 (C-22), - 1.7 (C-23), + 0.5 (C-24), - 1.6 (C-25), - 0.0 (C-26), and - 0.3 (C-27), which were almost in line with the Δ δCvalues [Δ δC(23 R) - Δ δC(23 S)] of - 0.9 (C-20), - 0.9 (C-21), + 0.4 (C-22), - 1.6 (C-23), + 0.5 (C-24), - 1.4 (C-25), - 0.1 (C-26), and - 0.4 (C-27) calculated from the 13 C NMR data of charantoside II (23 R) and charantoside VI (23 S) [ 15]. As a consequence, compound 3 has the ( S)-confi guration at C-23. The 1 H- 1 H COSY, HMBC, and ROESY correlations of compounds 1 and 3 were similar as well, suggesting that both compounds 1 and 3 have an almost identical planar chemical structure. Analogously, ROESY correlation of H-8/H-19 certifi ed that acetal carbon (C-19) should has the ( S)-confi guration. Eventually, the structure of compound 3 was identifi ed as (19 S,23 S)-5 β,19-epoxy-19,23-dimethoxycucurbita-6,24-dien-3 β-ol 3- O- β- Dallopyranoside, named charantoside K.

Table 2 13 C (150 MHz) NMR spectroscopic data of compounds 1- 5 in pyridine-d5 [δ in ppm]

Compound 4 was obtained as white amorphous powder and assigned a molecular formula of C36H56O7, (HRESIMS m/z 623.3926 [M + Na] + ), indicating nine degrees of unsaturation. The absorption at 238 nm in the UV spectrum exhibited a conjugated double bond group. The 1 H NMR spectrum of 4 (Table 1) showed signals allocable to seven methyl groups [ δH1.73, 1.72, 1.46, 1.04, 0.87, 0.87, 0.77], fi ve olefi nic protons [ δH6.33 (1H, dd, J = 10.8, 15.0 Hz), 6.17 (1H, dd, J = 1.8, 10.2 Hz), 5.91 (1H, d, J = 10.2 Hz), 5.53 (1H, dd, J = 3.6, 9.6 Hz), 5.48 (1H, dd, J = 8.4, 14.4 Hz)], and a β-allopyranoside moiety [ δH5.38 (1H, d, J = 7.8 Hz, H-1′)] [ 21]. After acid hydrolysis of 4 with HCl/MeOH, D-allose was detected by TLC and specifi c rotation comparing with the standard. The 13 C NMR and DEPT spectrum (Table 2) of 4 revealed signals assignable to the sugar moiety and tetracylic part were very semblable to those of (23 E)-5 β,19-epoxycucurbita-6,23,25-trien-3 β-ol 3- O- β- Dallopyranoside (charantosides IV) [ 15], while the signals of side chain were signifi cantly disparate. The olefi nic carbons at δC138.9, 124.6, 126.1, 132.1 and their coupling constants in the 1 H-NMR spectrum [ δH5.48 (1H, dd, 8.4, 14.4), 6.33 (1H, dd, 10.8, 15.0), 5.91 (1H, d, 10.2)] implied that a conjugated double bond existed in the side chain. This was further confi rmed via the 1 H- 1 H COSY correlations of H-21/H-20/H-22/H-23/H-24 and the key HMBC correlations Me-21/C-17, C-20, C-22, H-22/C-21, C-24, H-24/C-22, C-23, H-26/C-24, C-25, C-27, and H-27/C-24, C-25, C-26 (Fig. 2). Therefore, the structure of the side chain was almost identical to 5 β,19-epoxy-cucurbita-6,22 E,24-trien-3 β-ol [ 22]. Based on the above observation, compound 4 was identifi ed as 5 β,19-epoxy-cucurbita-6,22 E,24-trien-3 β-ol 3- O- β- D-allopyranoside, and named momorcharacoside A.

Compound 5 was obtained as white amorphous powder and assigned a molecular formula of C37H60O9, (HRESIMS m/z 671.4136 [M + Na] + ), indicating eight degrees of unsaturation. The 1 H NMR spectrum of 5 (Table 1) showed signals assignable to seven methyl groups [ δ H 1.54, 1.54, 1.54, 0.92, 0.89, 0.82, 0.79], one methoxy groups [ δ H 3.44], four olefi nic protons [ δH6.28 (1H, d, J = 9.6 Hz), 5.92 (1H, overlap), 5.92 (1H, overlap), 5.48 (1H, dd, J = 3.6, 9.6 Hz)], and a β-glucopyanosyl moiety [ δH4.92 (1H, d, J = 7.8 Hz, H-1′)] [ 18, 21]. The suger moiety were determined to be D-glucose on the basis of acidic hydrolysis and TLC and specifi c rotation analysis. The 13 C NMR (Table 2) showed 37 carbon signals, which were closely similar to those of 19( R)-methoxy-5 β,19-epoxycucurbita-6,23-diene-3 β,25-diol 3- O- β- D-glucopyranoside (goyaglycoside-a) [ 23] except for the signals due to the stereochemistry at C-19. Thus, the Δ δ C values [ δ C (goyaglycoside-a) -- δ C ( 5)] for the relevant signals were feckly consistent with those reported in the literature [ 19]. Therefore, compound 5 has the ( S)-confi guration at C-19, which was further confi rmed by the ROESY correlation (Fig. 3) of H-8/H-19. Based on the above proof, compound 5 was identifi ed as 19( S)-methoxy-5 β,19-epoxycucurbita-6,23-dien-3 β,25-diol 3- O- β- D-glucopyranoside, named goyaglycoside- L.

In this study, fi ve new and fi ve known compounds were isolated from M. charantia, all of which were cucurbitanetype triterpene glycosides. All compounds were evaluated for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activities with acarbose as a positive control. Compounds 2, 5, 7, 8, and 9 showed moderate inhibitory activities with IC 50 values of 63.26 ± 3.04, 59.13 ± 4.67, 35.08 ± 4.15, 36.38 ± 3.03, 28.40 ± 2.08 μM, respectively. The IC50value of positive control (acarbose) was 87.65 ± 6.51 μM (Table 3). Interestingly, all the active compounds contained β- D-glucopyranosyl, suggesting that the presence of glucose groups may aあ ect the activity of triterpenes. However, further studies are needed to determine the structure-activity relationship of the cucurbitacene-type triterpenes. The results of this study also showed that cucurbitane-type triterpene glycosides might be the key ingredient in the hypoglycemic eあ ect of M. charantia, some of them had signifi cant blood sugar lowering eあ ect.

Table 3 α-Glucosidase inhibitory activities of compounds 1- 10

3 Experimental Section

3.1 General Experimental Procedures

UV spectra were recorded on a UV-2401PC spectrometer (Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan). Optical rotations were measured in methanol on JASCO P-1020 digital polarimeter (Jasco, Tokyo, Japan). IR spectra were scanned on a Bruker Tensor-27 Fourier transform infrared spectrometer with KBr pellets (Bruker, German). High-resolution (HR) ESI mass spectra data were measured on a Waters API QSTAR Pulsar spectrometer. 1D and 2D NMR spectra were obtained in pyridine- d5on Bruker Ascend-400, 600 and 800 MHz NMR spectrometers with tetramethylsilane (TMS) as internal standard (Bruker, Zurich, Switzerland). Column chromatography (CC) was performed on macroporous resin (D-101, Tianjin, China), Lichroprep RP-18 (Merck, German), sephadex LH-20 (Pharmacia, USA), silica gel (200-300 mesh, Qingdao, China), and Semi-preparative HPLC was performed on an Agilent 1260 liquid chromatography system equipped with a ZORBAX SB-C18 column (5 μm, 9.4 × 250 mm, 3.0 mL/min) and a DAD detector. Fractions were detected by TLC, and spots were visualized by spraying with 10% H2SO4in EtOH, followed by heating. α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was evaluated on the basis of the ability of the compounds to decrease glucosidase activity and then inhibit the breaking of glycosidic bonds in p-nitrophenyl- α- D-glucopyranoside (PNPG). Water was purchased from wahaha group co. LTD. Acetonitrile (chromatographic grade) was purchased from OCEANPAK (Sweden). Common organic solvents are industrial grade, used after redistillation. PNPG was obtained from Sigma Chemical Co. (St. Louis, Mo, USA). α-glucosidase was purchased from Shanghai yuanye biotechnology Co., Ltd. Potassium phosphate buあ er solution (PPBS) was obtained from Shanghai Yidian Scientifi c Instrument Co., Ltd. 96-well plates was purchased from Nest biotechnology co., LTD.

3.2 Plant Material

Dried slices of M. charantia were purchased from the Luosiwan Chinese Herbal Medicine Market in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China, in February 2017. The material was identifi ed by associate Prof. Jian-Chao Cheng from Kunming Institute of Botany (KIB), Chinese Academy of Science (CAS). A specimen was deposited in the State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resource in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Kunming, China.

3.3 Extraction and Isolation

The dried fruits of M. charantia (40.0 kg) were sliced and extracted with MeOH. The solution was concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain a crude extract (25 kg), which was then successfully partitioned with petroleum ether (PE), EtOAc (EA), and n-butanol, respectively. The EtOAc fraction (2.0 kg) was subjected to the D101 macroporous resin, eluting with gradient system of MeOH/H2O (30:70, 50:50, 70:30, 90:10, 100:1) to aあ ord fi ve fractions. The fraction (MeOH/H2O 90:10, 87.0 g) was chromatographed on a silica gel column, eluting with gradient system of CHCl3/MeOH (100:1-1:1) to give four fractions (Fr.1-Fr.4). Fr.2 (16.8 g) was applied to ODS column, eluting with MeOH/H2O to give six sub fractions (Fr.2.1-Fr.2.6). Fr.2.5 (4.2 g) was separated over silica gel column (PE/EA) followed by semi-preparative HPLC (CH3CN/H2O), to yield compounds 1 (1.0 mg), 2 (1.0 mg), 3 (2.5 mg), and 10 (4.0 mg), respectively. Fr.2.6 (2.1 g) was successively purifi ed by open column CC (CHCl 3 /MeOH) and semi-preparative HPLC (CH3CN/H2O), respectively, to aあ ord compounds 4 (28.0 mg), 6 (6.0 mg), 7 (5.0 mg), 8 (1 mg), and 9 (30.0 mg). Similarly, Fr.3 (643 mg) was purifi ed by RP-HPLC with CH3CN /H2O as eluent to obtain compounds 5 (10.0 mg).

3.3.1 Charantoside H ( 1)

White amorphous powder; [ α]- 49.62 ( c 0.11, MeOH); UV (MeOH) λmax(log ε) 196 (4.22) nm; IR (KBr) νmax3426, 3027, 2926, 2875, 2815, 1736, 1634, 1465, 1447, 1380, 1320, 1292, 1260, 1218, 1182, 1154, 1108, 1084, 1049, 1033, 986, 953, 926, 882, 843, 801, 775, 747, 721, 696, 557, 529, 513, 467, 440, 411, 402 cm -1 ; For 1 H NMR and 13 C NMR (pyridine- d5) spectroscopic data, see Tables 1 and Table 2; HRESIMS m/z 685.4295 [M + Na] + (calcd for C38H62O9Na, 685.4286).

3.3.2 Charantoside J ( 2)

3.3.3 Charantoside K ( 3)

White amorphous powder; [ α] - 35.77 ( c 0.13, MeOH); UV (MeOH) λmax(log ε) 196 (4.15) nm; IR (KBr) ν23Dmax3428, 3028, 2925, 2874, 1736, 1630, 1465, 1448, 1377, 1307, 1287, 1260, 1212, 1197, 1180, 1155, 1108, 1082, 1049, 1033, 985, 953, 941, 926, 882, 843, 803, 778, 755, 731, 691, 550, 522, 496, 467, 449, 440, 411, 402 cm -1 ; For 1 H NMR and 13 C NMR (pyridine- d5) spectroscopic data, see Tables 1 and 2; HRESIMS m/z 685.4296 [M + Na] + (calcd for C38H62O9Na, 685.4286).

3.3.4 Momorcharacoside A ( 4)

White amorphous powder; [ α]D24 - 53.88 ( c 0.29, MeOH); UV (MeOH) λmax(log ε) 238 (4.02), 196 (4.07), 211(3.73) nm; IR (KBr) ν max 3391, 3124, 2949, 2873, 2387, 2318, 1637, 1592, 1469, 1397, 1377, 1348, 1310, 1085, 1034, 1000, 777, 749, 684, 661, 628, 586, 531, 493, 410 cm -1 ; For 1 H NMR and 13 C NMR (pyridine- d5) spectroscopic data, see Tables 1 and 2; HRESIMS m/z 623.3926 [M + Na] + (calcd for C36H56O7Na, 623.3918).

3.3.5 Goyaglycoside- L ( 5)

White amorphous powder; [ α]- 71.96 ( c 0.14, MeOH); UV (MeOH) λmax(log ε) 196 (4.21) nm; IR (KBr) νmax3427, 3027, 2970, 2947, 2927, 2873, 1735, 1632, 1464, 1449, 1377, 1312, 1288, 1256, 1199, 1158, 1138, 1112, 1078, 1050, 980, 950, 941, 925, 844, 803, 778, 753, 733, 695, 579, 549, 529, 491, 466, 450, 439, 429, 412 cm -1 ; For 1 H NMR and 13 C NMR (pyridine- d5) spectroscopic data, see Tables 1 and 2; HRESIMS m/z 671.4136 [M + Na] + (calcd for C37H60O9Na, 671.4130).

3.4 Acid Hydrolysis of Compounds 4 and 5 for Sugar Analysis

Compounds 4 and 5 (5 mg each), were separately dissolved in 2 M HCl/CH3OH (1:1, 5 mL) and heated at 80 °C for 4 h in a water bath. CHCl 3 /H2O 1:1 (5 mL × 3) was used for extraction. The aqueous phase was neutralized with Na2CO3. Each H2O layer was concentrated in vacuo to give a monosaccharide, which was identifi ed by TLC [BuOH/acetic ether/H2O (4:1:5 upper layer)] and specifi c rotation compared with the authentic samples, All: Rf= 0.47, [ α]= + 24.4; Glc: Rf= 0.51, [ α]= + 51.9.

3.5 α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity

The α-glucosidase inhibition assay was performed according to the method adapted from the literature with slight modifi cations [ 24]. α-glucosidase can cut glycosidic bonds in the PNPG to produce 4-nitrophenol (yellow), then measured its absorbance can determine the activity of enzyme. The test samples and ursolic acid (positive control) were dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and then diluted with PPBS (pH 6.86) to the required concentration. The α-glucosidase (1.0 U/mL) and substrate (PNPG, 2.5 mM) were dissolved in PPBS. Sample wells included 60 μ L of PPBS, 10 μL of test substances, 30 μL of enzyme stock solution, and incubated at 37 °C for 10 min. After the preincubation phase, 40 μL of PNPG solution was added and the mixture was incubated for another 20 min at 37 °C. Finally, 80 μL Na2CO3(0.2 M) solution was added to the sample wells to stop the reaction. The absorbance of the reaction mixture was recorded at 405 nm using a microplate reader. All samples were measured in triplicate. The inhibition rate (%) was calculated by the following formula: Inhibition (%) = [1 - (Asample/Acontrol)] × 100.

Acknowledgements The work was supported by a program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 31872675 and 81373288) and the cooperation program between Chinese Academy of Sciences and Guangdong Province (2013B09110011).

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Conflict of interest All authors declare no confl ict of interest.

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