Purple Sweet Potatoes from East Java of Indonesia Revealed the Macronutrient, Anthocyanin Compound and Antidepressant Activity Candidate

Introduction: The development of new antidepressant is crucial to overcome the remission rate limitation. Anthocyanin on purple sweet potatoes (PSP) from East Java cultivar previously demonstrated a behavioural effect. However, the certain mechanism and the nutritional compound need further exploration.

Aim: This study aimed to characterize macronutrient content, amino acids, anthocyanin, and revealed the potential of PSP from East Java-Indonesia as antidepressant agent through D2-dopamine receptor (D2DR).

Methods: This study was characterized the macronutrient content using proximate analysis. The amino acids were analysed using Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Anthocyanin was identified using Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC). Molecular docking was conducted to predict the interaction between anthocyanins and D2 dopamine receptor.

Results: We were found the predominance of water on proximate analysis. Alanine was demonstrated as the highest content of amino acid. Cyanidin, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and peonidin-3-O-glucoside were identified as major anthocyanin content. Molecular docking was showed that cyanidin bound to similar binding site with dopamine on D2DR with stronger interaction than cyanidin-3-glucoside.

Conclusion: Current study was indicated that cyanidin as major anthocyanin from purple sweet potatoes has potential health beneficial as antidepressant potential candidate.