Rapid Screening of Phenolic Compounds with Anti-Enteritis Activity from Camellia oleifera Oil Using a Smurf Drosophila Model and Molecular Docking Methods

Abstract

Screening and identifying the active compounds in foods are important for the development and utilization of functional foods. In this study, the anti-enteritis activity of ethanol extract from Camellia oleifera oil (PECS) was quickly evaluated using a Smurf Drosophila model and the metabolomics approach, combined with molecular docking techniques, were performed to rapidly screen and identify compounds with potential anti-enteritis activity in PECS. PECS showed good anti-enteritis activity and inhibited the activity of 5-lipoxygenase (LOX), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). In particular, wighteone and p-octopamine were newly identified in C. oleifera oil and were proven to have good anti-enteritis activity. The inhibitory activity of kaempferitrin (IC50 = 0.365 mmol L−1) was higher than that of wighteone (IC50 = 0.424 mmol L−1) and p-octopamine (IC50 = 0.402 mmol L−1). Of note, the IC50 value of salazosulfapyridine was 0.810 mmol L−1. Inhibition of LOX activity is likely one of the anti-enteritis mechanisms of PECS. These new findings lay the foundation for further investigations into the underlying mechanisms of anti-enteritis activity in C. oleifera oil.