Integrated Metabolomics and Network Pharmacology Reveal Anti-Aging and Anti-MRSA Activities of Cucumis melo Var. flexuosus.
Khalil Mohammed N A MNA, Radwan Rasha A RA, Hassan Mariam M, Ahmed Noha A NA et al.
Cucumis melo var. flexuosus is traditionally used for the management of skin ailments; however, its phytochemical composition and bioactivities remain insufficiently characterized. Hereto, three fruit genotypes (LG, SH, and WH) and the leaves of the LG genotype (LGLV) were systematically investigated. More than 100 phytochemicals were tentatively identified in the investigated extracts utilizing LC-HRMS. Chemometric tools discerned samples in three distinct clusters. LGLV cluster characterized by richness in flavonoids, LG & SH cluster were enriched in glycerol- and lyso-phospholipids while WH was enriched in cerebroside. Network pharmacology revealed that flavonoids, phenolic acids and lysophospholipids were the key phytochemicals against skin aging and MRSA (Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus). LGLV had the highest antioxidant activities in different in vitro assays. LGLV had the highest antibacterial, biofilm inhibition (IC50 = 0.322 mg/mL) and detachment activities against MRSA. Antibacterial efficacy was verified by in vivo MRSA skin infection model. Moreover, LGLV halted aging in H2O2-induced aging model in vitro human fibroblast cell culture as evidenced by flow cytometry and by the effective suppression of MMP-1 and IL-6, p53 and increment in TIMP-1 levels. These findings highlighted that leaves are a better sustainable source of bioactive compounds for the development of anti-MRSA and skin-protective products.