Potential hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic bioactive constituents in Cyclocarya paliurus leaves explored by affinity ultrafiltration with α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase

Cyclocarya paliurus has been widely applied for therapeutic feeding as a traditional Chinese medicine homologous food with high nutritional and medical value. Nevertheless, the specific bioactive compounds liable for hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties and underlying mechanisms remain unexplored. In the present study, the in vitro hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of C. paliurus were assessed by α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase inhibition assays, and the results indicated that 70% ethanol extract exhibited remarkable α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity with the IC₅₀ value of 3.14 μg/mL and 0.98 μg/mL, respectively. A total of 18 and 15 potential ligand candidates were screened, and the chemical structures were characterized. Furthermore, the docking result showed that chlorogenic acid, quercetin, kaempferol 3-O-rhamnoside, and pterocaryoside A contributed to the underlying hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of C. paliurus, further strengthened the bindings of the enzyme-ligand complex and suppressed the enzyme's activity with the binding energies ranged from −4.00 to −6.31 kcal/mol. The interrelations between the specific bioactive constituents, α-glucosidase or lipase, and hypoglycemic or hypolipidemic activities were also carified. The present study reveals substantial prospects of C. paliurus to be developed as a natural dietotherapy, disease-prevention, and healthcare for diabetes and obesity in the near future.