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Coffee compounds show stronger enzyme inhibition than a diabetes drug in lab tests
Summary
Researchers identified new diterpene esters in roasted Coffea arabica that inhibited α‑glucosidase in laboratory tests, with some showing lower IC50 values than the drug acarbose. The team used a three-step, activity‑focused workflow combining NMR and LC‑MS/MS; the work appears in Beverage Plant Research.
Content
Researchers at the Kunming Institute of Botany reported that roasted Coffea arabica contains previously unknown diterpene esters that inhibit α‑glucosidase, an enzyme involved in carbohydrate digestion. The team isolated three new compounds named caffaldehydes A–C and identified three additional related esters using LC‑MS/MS molecular networking. Some of these molecules produced lower IC50 values against α‑glucosidase than the comparison drug acarbose in the same laboratory assay. The authors describe a three‑step, activity‑focused workflow that combined 1D NMR screening with LC‑MS/MS to speed analysis and reduce solvent use.
Key findings:
- Researchers isolated caffaldehydes A, B and C from roasted Coffea arabica and confirmed their structures by 1D/2D NMR and high‑resolution mass spectrometry.
- Caffaldehydes A–C had reported IC50 values of 45.07, 24.40 and 17.50 μM respectively, which the article states showed stronger α‑glucosidase inhibition than acarbose in the assay used.
- Three additional diterpene esters (compounds 4–6) were detected by LC‑MS/MS and molecular networking; database searches indicated these compounds were previously unreported.
- The workflow involved silica gel fractionation with 1H NMR screening, cluster heatmap analysis to select active fractions, and targeted 13C‑DEPT NMR plus semi‑preparative HPLC for isolation.
- The study is published in Beverage Plant Research under the title provided.
Summary:
The results identify structurally diverse diterpene esters in roasted coffee that inhibit α‑glucosidase in laboratory tests and point to possible leads for functional‑food or nutraceutical research. Undetermined at this time.
