Monoamine Oxidase-A Inhibition and Associated Antioxidant Activity in Plant Extracts with Potential Antidepressant Actions

Abstract

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) catalyzes the oxidative deamination of amines and neurotransmitters and is involved in mood disorders, depression, oxidative stress, and adverse pharmacological reactions. This work studies the inhibition of human MAO-A by Hypericum perforatum, Peganum harmala, and Lepidium meyenii, which are reported to improve and affect mood and mental conditions. Subsequently, the antioxidant activity associated with the inhibition of MAO is determined in plant extracts for the first time. H. perforatum inhibited human MAO-A, and extracts from flowers gave the highest inhibition (IC₅₀ of 63.6 μg/mL). Plant extracts were analyzed by HPLC-DAD-MS and contained pseudohypericin, hypericin, hyperforin, adhyperforin, hyperfirin, and flavonoids. Hyperforin did not inhibit human MAO-A and hypericin was a poor inhibitor of this isoenzyme. Quercetin and flavonoids significantly contributed to MAO-A inhibition. P. harmala seed extracts highly inhibited MAO-A (IC₅₀ of 49.9 μg/L), being a thousand times more potent than H. perforatum extracts owing to its content of β-carboline alkaloids (harmaline and harmine). L. meyenii root (maca) extracts did not inhibit MAO-A. These plants may exert protective actions related to antioxidant effects. Results in this work show that P. harmala and H. perforatum extracts exhibit antioxidant activity associated with the inhibition of MAO (i.e., lower production of H₂O₂).

1. Introduction

The enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO) metabolizes xenobiotic and endogenous amines and neurotransmitters including serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, tyramine, tryptamine, and the neurotoxin MPTP [1, 2]. It occurs as two isoenzymes, MAO-A and MAO-B, which play an important role in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral organs. MAO-B is involved in neurodegenerative diseases and MAO-A in psychiatric conditions and depression. Inhibitors of MAO-B are useful as neuroprotectants, whereas inhibitors of MAO-A are effective antidepressants although their use may trigger adverse reactions (e.g., hypertensive crisis with foods containing tyramine) [1]. On the other hand, the oxidation of biogenic amines and neurotransmitters by MAO enzymes generates hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), oxygen radicals, and aldehydes, which are risk factors for cell oxidative injury. Therefore, the inhibition of MAO may result in protection against oxidative stress and neurotoxins [1, 3, 4]. Recent investigations have pointed out that plant and food extracts may inhibit MAO enzymes resulting in the above-mentioned biological effects [3, 5–14]. On the other hand, as a result of MAO inhibition, those products might be involved in undesirable interactions with other herbal preparations, foods, or drugs [1].

Hypericum perforatum L. (family Hypericaceae) (St. John's wort) is widely used for health purposes and their products are commercially available as herbs, nutraceuticals, teas, tinctures, juices, oily macerates, phytopharmaceuticals, and food additives and supplements [15, 16]. H. perforatum is popular for treatment of mild and moderate depression [17–19]. It may trigger adverse pharmacological interactions with others herbs, drugs, or foods [20–22]. Its ability to alleviate and improve mood disorders and depression is attributed to active compounds that exhibit antidepressant properties [23, 24]. The most accepted mechanism of action is monoamine reuptake inhibition but additional mechanisms including monoamine oxidase inhibition and synergistic effects can be involved [17]. Peganum harmala (family Zygophyllaceae) and Lepidium meyenii (family Brassicaceae) (maca) are plants with CNS effects and potential antidepressant actions [14, 25, 26]. P. harmala, native from the Mediterranean region and Asia and extended to North America areas, is used as a multipurpose health remedy including CNS disorders. Preparations of this plant may trigger adverse pharmacological interactions [27]. L. meyenii is an edible plant from the central Andes whose roots are used as a food energizer and nutraceutical to improve physical and mental conditions and fertility [28]. The purpose of this work was to study the inhibition of human MAO-A by extracts of H. perforatum, P. harmala, and L. meyenii (maca) as well as by their active components that were identified and analyzed by HPLC-DAD-MS and subsequently evaluate the antioxidant activity which is specifically associated with the inhibition of MAO. This specific antioxidant activity is determined for the first time in plant extracts.

2. Materials and Methods

Hypericum perforatum L. plants collected in Ciudad Real (Spain) were dried and separated in parts: flowers; top aerial portions of the plant including branched stems and leaves but no flowers; and main stems (central and lower) and roots. They were ground and the powder used for sample preparation. Commercial herbs and herbal supplements (capsules and tablets) of H. perforatum were also purchased in local herbal shops. Peganum harmala L. plant and seeds were collected in Toledo (Spain). Lepidium meyenii (maca) both as powder and commercial tablets were obtained from Peru and local shops. Hypericin standard (>95% purity by HPLC) from HWI Analytik GMBH pharma solutions, hyperforin dicyclohexylammonium salt, quercetin, harmaline, harmine, catalase, clorgyline, 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) type II were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich.

2.1. Sample Preparation of Plant Extracts

Samples containing H. perforatum (i.e., plant parts, herbal preparation, capsules, or tablets) (500 mg) were homogenized in 10 mL of water/methanol (1 : 1) by using an Ultra Turrax homogenizer, centrifuged at 10000 rpm for 10 min, and the supernatant was collected. The process was repeated twice with the residue and the three supernatant fractions collected, mixed and analyzed by HPLC as mentioned below. After three consecutive extractions, the recoveries of hypericin and pseudohypericin were higher than 97%. Samples of L. meyenii (maca) (500 mg) and P. harmala seeds (500 mg) were homogenized, respectively, in 10 mL of water/methanol (1 : 1) or 10 mL of 0.6 M perchloric acid : methanol (1 : 1) by using an Ultra Turrax homogenizer, centrifuged at 10000 rpm for 10 min, and the supernatant was collected. This process was repeated twice with the residue and the collected supernatants were mixed and analyzed by HPLC as mentioned below.

2.2. RP-HPLC Analysis of Plant Extracts

The analysis of H. perforatum extracts was performed by RP-HPLC with UV diode array and fluorescence detection using a HPLC 1050 (Agilent) coupled with a 1100 diode array detector (DAD) (Agilent) and a 1046A-fluorescence detector. A 150 × 3.9 mm i.d., 4 μm, Nova-pak C18 column (Waters) was used for separation. Chromatographic conditions were 50 mM ammonium phosphate buffer (pH 3) (buffer A) and 20% of A in acetonitrile (buffer B). The gradient was programmed from 0% (100% A) to 32% B in 8 min and 100% B at 10 min. The flow rate was 1 mL/min, the column temperature was 40°C, and the injection volume was 20 μL. Detection of hypericins was carried out by absorbance at 590 nm and fluorescence at 236 nm for excitation and 592 nm for emission. The concentration of hypericin was determined from a calibration curve of response (absorbance at 590 nm) versus concentration with solutions made in the laboratory from hypericin standard. The same response factor was applied to pseudohypericin, protohypericin, and protopseudohypericin. Flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides were analyzed at 265 nm and 355 nm and the concentration of quercetin was determined at 355 nm from a calibration curve of response versus concentration. The HPLC fraction corresponding to flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides (7 to 11 min) was collected by successive injections of H. perforatum extract (herbs) and, after evaporation in vacuum, dissolved in 30% methanol and used for MAO-A inhibition. The phloroglucinols (hyperforin, adhyperforin, hyperfirin, and adhyperfirin) were analyzed at 280 nm by using the same column (Nova-pak C18) and conditions but under isocratic elution with 20% of 50 mM ammonium phosphate buffer, pH 3, and 80% of acetonitrile. The concentration of these compounds was determined from a calibration curve of hyperforin standard. The analysis of β-carboline alkaloids in P. harmala and L. meyenii was carried out as previously described [14, 29].

2.3. Identification by HPLC-ESI-Mass Spectrometry

Identification of compounds in H. perforatum extracts was done by HPLC-MS (electrospray-negative ion mode) by using a 1200 series HPLC-DAD coupled to a 6110 quadrupole-MS (Agilent). Chromatographic separation was performed on a 150 × 2.1 mm i.d. Zorbax SB-C18 (5 μm) column (Agilent Technologies). The chromatographic conditions were eluent A: formic acid (0.1%); B: formic acid (0.1%) in acetonitrile; gradient: 0% to 70% B in 8 min and 100% B at 10 min, flow rate: 0.3 mL/min; T: 40°C; mass range: 50–700 u, and cone voltage: 150 V. For identification of phloroglucinols (e.g., hyperforin), separation was done using a Nova-pak C18 (4 μm) column with the same eluents and isocratic elution (eluent A, 20% and eluent B, 80%) at a flow rate of 0.7 mL/min and mass spectra recorded in negative and positive ionization. Identification of compounds was done on the basis of mass spectra, UV-vis spectra (DAD) of chromatographic peaks, and coelution with standards. β-Carbolines in P. harmala and L. meyenii were identified as previously described [14, 29].

2.4. Monoamine Oxidase (MAO-A) Inhibition Assays

MAO assays were performed as elsewhere [8, 11, 14]. Briefly, membrane protein fractions containing MAO-A (BD-Gentest) were diluted to the desired concentrations in 100 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). A 0.2 mL reaction mixture containing 0.01 mg/mL protein and 0.25 mM kynuramine in 100 mM potassium phosphate (pH 7.4) was incubated at 37°C for 40 min. After incubation, the reaction was stopped by the addition of 2 N NaOH (75 μL), followed by the addition of 70% HClO₄ (25 μL), and the sample was centrifuged (10000g) for 10 min. The supernatant (20 μL) was injected into the HPLC and the deamination product of kynuramine (i.e., 4-hydroxyquinoline) formed during enzymatic reaction determined by RP-HPLC-diode array detection at 320 nm. A response curve of area versus concentration was constructed to calculate the concentration of 4-hydroxyquinoline. In order to perform assays of MAO inhibition, aliquots of extracts from plants or commercial preparations or instead pure compounds were conveniently diluted and added to reaction mixtures containing kynuramine (0.25 mM) and MAO-A (0.01 mg/mL protein) in 100 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), with enzymatic reaction and analysis carried out as above, and compared with the corresponding controls containing solvent. The standard inhibitor clorgyline was used as a positive control for inhibition (>90% inhibition at 2.5 μM). Incubations were carried out at least in duplicate from different experiments and the IC₅₀ values were calculated using GraphPad Prism 4.0.

2.5. Determination of Antioxidant Activity Associated with Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) Inhibition

Assays (0.2 mL) of reaction mixtures in 70 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), containing 0.025 mg/mL MAO-A protein and 0.25 mM kynuramine, were incubated at 37°C for 40 min in the absence (control assays) or in the presence of plant extracts. MAO assays were also performed in presence of clorgyline (25 μM), a classical inhibitor of MAO-A (positive control of inhibition), or catalase enzyme (100 μg/mL). After the incubation period, the reaction mixture was added with activated charcoal (3.5 mg), mixed, and filtered (0.45 μm). The solution was added with 20 μL of 10 mM tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in 40% DMSO and 20 μL of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) type II (1 mg/mL), kept 5 min, and added with 0.3 mL of 0.5 M H₂SO₄ solution. The absorbance at 450 nm was measured to determine TMB diimine, a yellow product resulting from the oxidation of TMB by HRP and the H₂O₂ generated in the oxidative deamination catalyzed by MAO. The oxidation of TMB in the presence of inhibitors of MAO was compared with the corresponding controls without inhibitors and appropriate blanks showed absence of interferences.

3. Results and Discussion

Commercial preparations of H. perforatum inhibited human MAO-A with similar potency: IC₅₀ values of 142.3 ± 30.6 μg/mL (herbal preparation), 193 ± 61 μg/mL (capsules), and 173 ± 29 μg/mL (tablets) (Figure 1(a)). Regarding plants, H. perforatum extracts from flowers afforded the highest inhibition (IC₅₀ of 63.6 ± 9.4 μg/mL) followed by aerial stems and leaves (IC₅₀ 143.6 ± 16.5 μg/mL), and the lowest in root extracts (Figure 1(b)). Extracts from the aerial parts of H. perforatum were analyzed by HPLC-DAD-ESI (electrospray-negative ionization). They showed the presence of two major naphthodianthrones identified as pseudohypericin and hypericin (Figure 2(a) and Table 1). Flower extracts had two additional compounds identified as protopseudohypericin and protohypericin. Phenolics and flavonoids abounded in H. perforatum extracts (Figure 2(b)). Chlorogenic acid and the quercetin glycosides rutin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, miquelianin, acetyl hyperoside, and quercitrin, as well as free quercetin and biapigenin, were identified by HPLC-DAD (ESI negative ionization) and DAD (Table 1). On the other hand, flower extracts contained four phloroglucinols (Figure 2(c)) that were identified by HPLC-DAD-MS (ESI negative and positive ionization) and DAD as hyperforin, adhyperforin, hyperfirin, and adhyperfirin (Table 1). The presence of these compounds (Figure 3) in the plant agrees with other results [15, 30, 31]. The content of the main components was determined by HPLC (Table 2). Concentration of pseudohypericin was higher than hypericin, whereas protopseudohypericin and protohypericin were minor compounds (0.4 μg/mg of protopseudohypericin and 0.17 µg/mg of protohypericin were detected in flowers). In the plant, the highest content of hypericins was found in flowers with significantly low levels detected in stems and absence in roots. Hyperforin was highly abundant in flowers (27.2 μg/mg), whereas the concentration in commercial preparations ranged from 0.36 to 2.4 μg/mg. In flowers, adhyperforin (1.4 ± 0.07 μg/mg), hyperfirin (4.2 ± 0.02 μg/mg), and adhyperfirin (0.46 ± 0.02 μg/mg) also appeared. Flavonoids abounded in H. perforatum and most of them were quercetin glycosides (Figure 2(b)) whose presence was significantly higher in flowers than in other parts of the plant. The content of free quercetin in flowers was 2.0 μg/mg, whereas a content of 6.7 μg/mg was determined in commercial preparations.

Figure 1.

Inhibition of human monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) by extracts of commercial preparations of H. perforatum (a) (capsules, ■; tablets, ▲; herbs, ▼), and extracts from different parts of the plant (b) (flowers, ∆; top stems, ◊; main stems (central), ×; roots, ○). Significant differences (p < 0.05) among extracts at a selected concentration are indicated with different letters.

Figure 2.

HPLC chromatograms of extracts from H. perforatum flowers. (a) Detection of hypericins at 590 nm. 1: protopseudohypericin; 2: pseudohypericin; 3: protohypericin; and 4: hypericin. (b) Detection of phenols and flavonoids at 265 nm. 1: chlorogenic acid; 2: rutin; 3: hyperoside; 4: isoquercitrin; 5: miquelianin; 6: acetyl hyperoside; 7: quercitrin; 8: quercetin; and 9: biapigenin. (c) Detection of phloroglucinols at 280 nm. 1: hyperfirin, 2: adhyperfirin; 3: hyperforin; and 4: adhyperforin.

Table 1.

Compounds identified in H. perforatum.

Compounds	ESI-neg. ion (M − H)−	UV max (DAD)
Naphthodianthrones
Pseudohypericin	519	547, 590
Hypericin	503	547, 590
Protopseudohypericin	521	370, 539
Protohypericin	505	370, 539
Phenolic comp.
Chlorogenic acid	353	324
Rutin	609	256, 355
Hyperoside	463	256, 355
Isoquercitrin	463	256, 355
Miquelianin	477	256, 355
Acetyl hyperoside	505	263, 352
Quercitrin	447	255, 348
Quercetin	301	255, 369
Biapigenin	537	268, 331
Phloroglucinols
Hyperfirina	467	274
Adhyperfirina	481	274
Hyperforina	535	274
Adhyperforina	549	274

^aThese compounds gave also their corresponding (M + H)⁺ and (M + K)⁺ ions under ESI-positive ionization.

Figure 3.

Structures of compounds identified in H. perforatum: hypericins, quercetin, and quercetin flavonoids and phloroglucinols (hyperforin, adhyperforin, hyperfirin, and adhyperfirin).

Table 2.

Content (μg/mg)¹ of the main active components in H. perforatum samples.

H. perforatum samples	Pseudohypericin	Hypericin	Hyperforin	Quercetin
Plant
Stems (top)	0.25 ± 0.03a	0.11 ± 0.01a	1.48 ± 0.3a	0.28 ± 0.12a
Stems (central)	0.1 ± 0.04a	0.04 ± 0.01a	0.59 ± 0.16a	0.19 ± 0.01a
Roots	-	-	0.77 ± 0.1a	-
Flowers	2.78 ± 0.7b	1.58 ± 0.31b	27.2 ± 0.6b	2.04 ± 0.08b
Commercial prep.
Herbs	0.51 ± 0.05a	0.11 ± 0.01a	1.18 ± 0.03a	0.71 ± 0.4a
Capsules	2.41 ± 0.2b	0.83 ± 0.1b	2.42 ± 0.01b	2.4 ± 0.9a
Tablets	2.39 ± 0.2b	2.11 ± 0.2c	0.36 ± 0.1c	6.7 ± 1.7b

Significant differences (p < 0.05) for a compound within a group are indicated with different letters. ¹μg of compound/mg of plant tissue for plants parts and herbs or mg of powder in capsules and tablets.

The inhibition of MAO-A by H. perforatum extracts indicates occurrence of inhibitors. Hypericins, hyperforin, and flavonoids are possible contributors to this inhibition and were evaluated as inhibitors (Figure 4). Hypericin inhibited MAO-A (IC₅₀ of 35.5 ± 2.1 μM or 17.9 μg/mL) (Figure 4(a)). From the concentration in Table 2, hypericin is a weak contributor to MAO inhibition in H. perforatum extracts. Indeed, the calculated content of hypericin at IC₅₀ value in assays of flower extract (i.e., 63.6 μg/mL) was 0.1 μg/mL which is low compared with IC₅₀ of hypericin (17.9 μg/mL). Hyperforin did not inhibit MAO-A (Figure 4(b)). Quercetin inhibited human MAO-A (Figure 4(b)) with an IC₅₀ value of 11.1 ± 0.8 μM (i.e., 3.36 μg/mL). Then, quercetin was a better inhibitor than hypericin although its potency was still low to explain entire inhibition of extracts. Thus, the calculated content of quercetin at IC₅₀ in assays of flower extract was 0.13 μg/mL which is lower than the IC₅₀ of quercetin (3.4 μg/mL). When the fraction corresponding to quercetin glycosides and flavonoids (7–11 min, Figure 2(b)) was collected by RP-HPLC, it inhibited MAO-A (90% inhibition at 700 μg/mL extract) indicating a contribution of these compounds to MAO inhibition in H. perforatum, probably by additive effects. Then, inhibition of MAO-A could arise from components such as quercetin and related flavonoids (i.e., quercetin glycosides) which are abundant in the plant. In addition, minor compounds not identified here could also contribute to MAO inhibition as major compounds in Table 2 do not explain whole inhibition.

Figure 4.

Inhibition of human monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) by active components of H. perforatum: hypericin (a) and quercetin (■) and hyperforin (▲) (b).

Extracts from P. harmala seeds highly inhibited human MAO-A (Figure 5(a)) affording an IC₅₀ value of 49.9 ± 5.6 μg/L. Chromatographic analysis indicated that inhibition was due to the presence of the β-carboline alkaloids, harmaline and harmine, that were identified by HPLC-DAD-MS (Figure 5(c)). The content of these alkaloids determined in seeds was 48.5 mg/g for harmaline and 40.0 mg/g for harmine (this means 2.4 ng/mL and 2.0 ng/mL, resp., into assays at the IC₅₀). Therefore, the inhibition potency of MAO-A by P. harmala seeds was 1274 times more potent than that of H. perforatum flowers. As shown in Figure 5(b), Lepidium meyenii root extracts did not inhibit human MAO-A. L. meyenii (maca) is a popular plant from the Andes highlands whose roots are increasingly used for its nutritional and medicinal properties as energizing and to improve mood and sexual performance [28, 32]. Previous reports have indicated that they contain alkaloids including β-carbolines [25, 26] that might inhibit MAO. Analysis of extracts for β-carboline alkaloids gave 25 μg/g (maca powder) and 11.7 μg/g (capsules) of 1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid as a major compound. This specific β-carboline is not an inhibitor of MAO-A [8, 11].

Figure 5.

Inhibition of human monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) by P. harmala seed (a) and L. meyenii root (maca) extracts (b) (capsules, ▼ and powder, ■). (c) HPLC chromatogram of P. harmala seed extract which potently inhibited human MAO-A. Absorbance detection at 254 nm. Compounds identified are harmaline (m/z at 215 (M + H)⁺, UV_max at 375 nm) and harmine (m/z at 213 (M + H)⁺, UV_max at 245 and 322 nm).

MAO generates hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) that is involved in oxidative cell damage and pathological conditions [1, 3, 4, 33–36]. Then, the inhibition of MAO may result in specific antioxidant actions [37]. In order to study the antioxidant activity associated with MAO inhibition, experiments were designed in this research which linked the activity of MAO-A with the oxidation of tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and the H₂O₂ produced during oxidative deamination catalyzed by MAO (Figure 6). H. perforatum and P. harmala extracts which inhibited MAO-A as shown above highly decreased oxidation of TMB. In contrast, L. meyenii root (maca) extracts that did not inhibit MAO had a low antioxidant activity in this assay. Clorgyline which is a potent inhibitor of MAO-A highly decreased the oxidation of TMB when used as a control. The same happened with the presence of catalase in the media that removes H₂O₂ generated by MAO-A. Therefore, these results indicate that H. perforatum and P. harmala extracts afforded specific antioxidant actions associated with a lower production of H₂O₂ by inhibition of MAO.

Figure 6.

Antioxidant activity associated with MAO inhibition in assays coupling activity of MAO-A with the subsequent oxidation of tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence H₂O₂ generated in the reaction of MAO, and horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The graph shows the oxidation of TMB to diimine (absorbance at 450 nm) in control assays (100%), and in the presence of H. perforatum (herbs and flower extracts, 800 μg/mL), P. harmala seed extracts (0.8 μg/mL), L. meyenii root (maca) extracts (800 μg/mL), clorgyline (a standard inhibitor of MAO-A) (25 μM), and catalase (100 μg/mL). ^∗Significant differences (p < 0.01) compared to controls.

H. perforatum improves mood disorders and depression [17, 18, 38]. As shown here, it contains compounds such as hyperforin, hypericins, and flavonoids responsible for antidepressant effects (Figure 2 and Table 2). However, the specific mechanism for antidepressant action is not completely understood. The most accepted mechanism is inhibition of monoamine reuptake [23, 24, 39, 40]. However, some studies suggest a combination of mechanisms and synergistic effects [17, 41]. P. harmala exerts numerous biological and pharmacological actions. Their seeds are increasingly used for recreational purposes owing to their psychoactive and neuroactive effects [14]. The inhibition of human MAO-A is an established mechanism for antidepressant action [1]. Both irreversible and reversible inhibitors of MAO-A (e.g., phenelzine and moclobemide) are successfully used as antidepressants. In this study, H. perforatum extracts inhibited human MAO-A. However, this inhibition was moderate. It was more than one thousand times lower than that of P. harmala seed extracts. Sacher et al. have reported that the occupancy of MAO-A sites into the human brain determined by PET imaging with ¹¹C-harmine binding (i.e., the same β-carboline responsible for MAO inhibition in P. harmala) was high for a reversible inhibitor of MAO such as moclobemide but low for H. perforatum extract (St. John's wort) [42]. This means that the inhibitors of MAO-A in H. perforatum do not bind efficiently to active sites of MAO-A in the brain in contrast to the β-carboline harmine. The inhibitors of MAO-A in H. perforatum are flavonoids such as quercetin and their glycosides and the levels of these compounds that reach the brain might not be enough to occupy the sites of MAO-A in the brain and inhibit the enzyme [43]. In contrast, the inhibitors of P. harmala are β-carboline alkaloids including harmine and harmaline which have a very good brain penetration, bind with high affinity to MAO sites, and exhibit antidepressant effects [44–46]. Therefore, P. harmala could afford antidepressant effects by MAO inhibition. In this regard, it could be of interest to investigate the antidepressant effects of H. perforatum and P. harmala alone and in combination as they have different mechanisms of action.

The inhibition of MAO-A by H. perforatum and P. harmala extracts may contribute to other biological effects of these plants such as antioxidant actions and adverse pharmacological reactions. Extracts of these plants exert neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects which have been related to antioxidant activity [6, 9, 47–50]. In this regard by using a new procedure, results in this work have evidenced that H. perforatum and P. harmala extracts show antioxidant activity associated with the inhibition of MAO (lower production of H₂O₂). On the other hand, one of the major limitations to the use of these plants is their potential for producing adverse interactions with other herbs, foods, and drugs [17, 20, 21, 27]. The inhibition of MAO-A may trigger adverse effects under certain circumstances [1, 14].

4. Conclusions

Extracts from H. perforatum inhibited human MAO-A, and extracts from flowers were the most potent inhibitors. They were studied by HPLC-DAD-MS and contained pseudohypericin, hypericin, hyperforin, adhyperforin, hyperfirin, and flavonoids. The highest content of these compounds appeared in flowers. Hypericin was a weak inhibitor of MAO-A; hyperforin did not inhibit the enzyme and quercetin was a moderate inhibitor. The fraction of quercetin glycosides and flavonoids contributed to MAO inhibition. P. harmala seed extracts highly inhibited MAO-A and its potency of inhibition was more than a thousand times higher than H. perforatum extracts owing to its content in harmaline and harmine alkaloids. L. meyenii root (maca) extracts did not inhibit MAO-A. The inhibition of MAO-A may not explain the entire CNS effects attributed to H. perforatum but it is expected to contribute to these actions in P. harmala. These plants exert antioxidant effects. By using a new method this work have evidenced that P. harmala and H. perforatum extracts exhibit antioxidant activity associated with the inhibition of MAO.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no competing financial interest.