Proteomic and metabolomic characterization and anti-inflammatory properties of Berberis vulgaris honey from Tibet plateau with high diastase activity

The application of proteomics in the analysis of honey is currently limited. This study systematically investigated the protein characteristics and anti-inflammatory properties of Tibet Plateau Berberis vulgaris honey (BH). Proteomics identified 80 proteins in BH, which showed higher abundance and diversity than low diastase activity kinds of honey, consistent with its diastase activity [36.96 mL/(g·h)]. Metabolomics identified the alkaloid sinomenine as a potential biomarker of BH among 116 compounds. BH extracts (500 μg/mL) significantly inhibited NO release (−31.97 %) and reduced interleukin-1β (IL-1β, −72.16 %) and interleukin-10 (IL-10, −48.87 %) levels in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Cellular metabolomics identified 36 differential metabolites and enriched in the TCA cycle pathway. Molecular docking demonstrated that alkaloid lobeline was associated with high binding energies to isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH, −8.063 kcal/mol) and pyruvate carboxylase (PC, −8.012 kcal/mol). These findings indicated that BH possessed rich protein diversity and mediated anti-inflammatory effects by modulation the TCA cycle.