Studies on enzyme inhibition remain a crucial area in drug discovery since these studies have led to the discoveries of new lead compounds useful in the treatment of several diseases. In this study, protocatechuic acid (PCA), an active compound from Hibiscus sabdariffa L. has been evaluated for its inhibitory properties against jack bean urease (JBU) as well as its possible toxic effect on human gastric epithelial cells (GES-1). Anti-urease activity was evaluated by an Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MS) based method, while cytotoxicity was assayed by the MTT method. PCA exerted notable anti-JBU activity compared with that of acetohydroxamic acid (AHA), with IC50 values of 1.7 and 3.2 µM, respectively. PCA did not show any significant cytotoxic effect on (GES-1) cells at concentrations ranging from 1.12 to 3.12 µM. Molecular docking study revealed high spontaneous binding ability of PCA to the active site of urease. Additionally, the anti-urease activity was found to be related to the presence of hydroxyl moieties of PCA. This study presents PCA as a natural urease inhibitor, which could be used safely in the treatment of diseases caused by urease-producing bacteria.

• Keywords
• ESI-Mass spectrometry, Hibiscus sabdariffa L., cytotoxicity, molecular docking, protocatechuic acid, urease inhibitors,
• MeSH
• Cell Line MeSH
• Hibiscus chemistry   MeSH
• Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization MeSH
• Hydroxybenzoates chemistry   MeSH
• Hydroxamic Acids chemistry   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Molecular Docking Simulation methods   MeSH
• Urease antagonists & inhibitors   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• acetohydroxamic acid MeSH Browser
• Hydroxybenzoates MeSH
• Hydroxamic Acids MeSH
• protocatechuic acid MeSH Browser
• Urease MeSH

For decades, Hibiscus sabdariffa L. and its phytochemicals have been shown to possess a wide range of pharmacologic properties. In this study, aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa (AEHS) and its bioactive constituent protocatechuic acid (PCA), have been evaluated in vitro for their antiviral activity against HSV-2 clinical isolates and anti-enzymatic activity against urease. Antiherpetic activity was evaluated by the titer reduction assay in infected Vero cells, and cytotoxicity was evaluated by the neutral red dye-uptake method. Anti-urease activity was determined by a developed Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MS)-based assay. PCA showed potent anti-HSV-2 activity compared with that of acyclovir, with EC50 values of 0.92 and 1.43 µg∙mL-1, respectively, and selectivity indices > 217 and > 140, respectively. For the first time, AEHS was shown to exert anti-urease inhibition activity, with an IC50 value of 82.4 µg∙mL-1. This, combined with its safety, could facilitate its use in practical applications as a natural urease inhibitor. Our results present Hibiscus sabdariffa L. and its bioactive compound PCA as potential therapeutic agents in the treatment of HSV-2 infection and the treatment of diseases caused by urease-producing bacteria.

• Keywords
• ESI-mass spectrometry-based assay, Hibiscus sabdariffa L., anti-HSV-2 activity, bacterial infection, protocatechuic acid, urease inhibitors,
• MeSH
• Acyclovir pharmacology   MeSH
• Antiviral Agents chemistry   isolation & purification   pharmacology   MeSH
• Chlorocebus aethiops MeSH
• Hibiscus chemistry   MeSH
• Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization MeSH
• Inhibitory Concentration 50 MeSH
• Enzyme Inhibitors chemistry   isolation & purification   pharmacology   MeSH
• Kinetics MeSH
• Herpesvirus 2, Human drug effects   MeSH
• Polyphenols chemistry   isolation & purification   pharmacology   MeSH
• Drug Evaluation, Preclinical MeSH
• Plant Extracts chemistry   isolation & purification   pharmacology   MeSH
• Urease antagonists & inhibitors   chemistry   MeSH
• Vero Cells MeSH
• Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Acyclovir MeSH
• Antiviral Agents MeSH
• Enzyme Inhibitors MeSH
• Polyphenols MeSH
• Plant Extracts MeSH
• Urease MeSH