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Batista-Silva JP, Gomes D, Sousa SF, Sousa Â, Passarinha LA. Advances in structure-based drug design targeting membrane protein markers in prostate cancer. Drug Discov Today 2024; 29:104130. [PMID: 39103143 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2024.104130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 07/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the leading cancers in men and the lack of suitable biomarkers or their modulators results in poor prognosis. Membrane proteins (MPs) have a crucial role in the development and progression of PCa and can be attractive therapeutic targets. However, experimental limitations in targeting MPs hinder effective biomarker and inhibitor discovery. To overcome this barrier, computational methods can yield structural insights and screen large libraries of compounds, accelerating lead identification and optimization. In this review, we examine current breakthroughs in computer-aided drug design (CADD), with emphasis on structure-based approaches targeting the most relevant membrane-bound PCa biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- João P Batista-Silva
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal; UCIBIO-Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Chemistry Department, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB-Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Diana Gomes
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal; UCIBIO-Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Chemistry Department, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB-Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Sérgio F Sousa
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, BioSIM - Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ângela Sousa
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
| | - Luís A Passarinha
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal; UCIBIO-Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Chemistry Department, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB-Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal; Laboratório de Fármaco-Toxicologia-UBIMedical, University of Beira Interior, 6200-284 Covilhã, Portugal.
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Feng J, Xia G, Zhu J, Li L, Zang H. Ethnomedicinal Uses, Geographical Distribution, Botanical Description, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Quality Control of Laportea bulbifera (Sieb. et Zucc.) Wedd.: A Review. Molecules 2023; 29:42. [PMID: 38202625 PMCID: PMC10779678 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29010042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Laportea bulbifera (Sieb. et Zucc.) Wedd. (L. bulbifera) is a significant plant in the Laportea genus. Traditionally, it has been used in ethnomedicine for treating various conditions such as rheumatic arthralgia, fractures, falling injuries, nephritis dropsy, limb numbness, pruritus, fatigue-induced internal imbalances, and irregular menstruation. Modern pharmacological studies have confirmed its therapeutic potential, including anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, analgesic, and anti-rheumatoid arthritis properties. To gather comprehensive information on L. bulbifera, a thorough literature search was conducted using databases like Web of Science, PubMed, ProQuest, and CNKI. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of L. bulbifera, covering various aspects such as ethnomedicinal uses, geographical distribution, botanical description, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and quality control. The goal is to establish a solid foundation and propose new research avenues for exploring and developing potential applications of L. bulbifera. So far, a total of one hundred and eighty-nine compounds have been isolated and identified from L. bulbifera, including flavonoids, phenolics, nitrogen compounds, steroids, terpenoids, coumarins, phenylpropanoids, fatty acids and their derivatives, and other compounds. Notably, flavonoids and fatty acids have demonstrated remarkable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, these compounds show promising potential in activities such as analgesia, hypoglycemia, and hypolipidemia, as well as toxicity. Despite extensive fundamental studies on L. bulbifera, further research is still needed to enhance our understanding of its mechanism of action and improve quality control. This requires more comprehensive investigations to explore the specific material basis, uncover new mechanisms of action, and refine quality control methods related to L. bulbifera. By doing so, we could contribute to the further development and utilization of this plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Feng
- Green Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Medicine, Tonghua Normal University, Tonghua 134002, China; (J.F.); (G.X.); (J.Z.)
- College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, China
| | - Guangqing Xia
- Green Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Medicine, Tonghua Normal University, Tonghua 134002, China; (J.F.); (G.X.); (J.Z.)
- College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, China
- Key Laboratory of Evaluation and Application of Changbai Mountain Biological Gerplasm Resources of Jilin Province, Tonghua 134002, China
| | - Junyi Zhu
- Green Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Medicine, Tonghua Normal University, Tonghua 134002, China; (J.F.); (G.X.); (J.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Evaluation and Application of Changbai Mountain Biological Gerplasm Resources of Jilin Province, Tonghua 134002, China
| | - Li Li
- Green Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Medicine, Tonghua Normal University, Tonghua 134002, China; (J.F.); (G.X.); (J.Z.)
| | - Hao Zang
- Green Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Medicine, Tonghua Normal University, Tonghua 134002, China; (J.F.); (G.X.); (J.Z.)
- College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, China
- Key Laboratory of Evaluation and Application of Changbai Mountain Biological Gerplasm Resources of Jilin Province, Tonghua 134002, China
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Feng J, Sun Y, Wei Z, Sun H, Li L, Zhu J, Xia G, Zang H. Screening the Extract of Laportea bulbifera (Sieb. et Zucc.) Wedd. Based on Active Component Content, Its Antioxidant Capacity and Exploration of Hepatoprotective Activity in Rats. Molecules 2023; 28:6256. [PMID: 37687084 PMCID: PMC10488916 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28176256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Laportea bulbifera (Sieb. et Zucc.) Wedd., a plant with a long history of medicinal use, possesses uncertainly defined medicament portions while its antioxidant capacity remains largely unexplored. To gain a better understanding of its medicinal value, this study focused on investigating the Laportea bulbifera aboveground part (LBAP) and the Laportea bulbifera root (LBR). Through an assessment of the bioactive compound content, a significant finding emerged: the LBR exhibited notably higher levels of these bioactive phytochemicals compared to the LBAP. This observation was further reinforced by the antioxidant assays, which demonstrated the superiority of the LBR's antioxidant capacity. The experimental results unequivocally indicate that the root is the optimal medicament portion for Laportea bulbifera. Furthermore, it was discovered that the presence of alcohol in the extraction solvent significantly enhanced the extraction of active ingredients, with the methanol extract of LBR performing the best among the extracts tested. Consequently, this extract was selected for further research. Leveraging cutting-edge UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS technology, the methanol extract of LBR was meticulously analyzed, revealing the presence of 41 compounds, primarily belonging to the phenolics and fatty acids. Remarkably, stability experiments demonstrated that the phenolics in the methanol extract maintained their stability across various pH values and during in vitro simulations of the human digestive system, albeit showing gradual degradation under high temperatures. Furthermore, the oxidative stability tests conducted on oils revealed the potential of the methanol extract as a stabilizer for olive oil and sunflower oil. Moreover, oral acute toxicity studies confirmed the low toxicity of the methanol extract, further supporting its safe use for medicinal purposes. Of particular note, histopathological examination and biochemical analysis affirmed the remarkable protective effects of the methanol extract against d-galactosamine-induced liver damage. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of the methanol extract from the LBR in the treatment of diseases associated with oxidative imbalance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Feng
- College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133000, China; (J.F.); (Y.S.); (L.L.); (G.X.)
- Green Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Medicine, Tonghua Normal University, Tonghua 134002, China; (H.S.); (J.Z.)
| | - Yue Sun
- College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133000, China; (J.F.); (Y.S.); (L.L.); (G.X.)
- Green Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Medicine, Tonghua Normal University, Tonghua 134002, China; (H.S.); (J.Z.)
| | - Zhongbao Wei
- Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of Jilin, Changchun 130033, China;
| | - Hui Sun
- Green Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Medicine, Tonghua Normal University, Tonghua 134002, China; (H.S.); (J.Z.)
| | - Li Li
- College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133000, China; (J.F.); (Y.S.); (L.L.); (G.X.)
- Green Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Medicine, Tonghua Normal University, Tonghua 134002, China; (H.S.); (J.Z.)
| | - Junyi Zhu
- Green Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Medicine, Tonghua Normal University, Tonghua 134002, China; (H.S.); (J.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Evaluation and Application of Changbai Mountain Biological Gerplasm Resources of Jilin Province, Tonghua 134002, China
| | - Guangqing Xia
- College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133000, China; (J.F.); (Y.S.); (L.L.); (G.X.)
- Green Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Medicine, Tonghua Normal University, Tonghua 134002, China; (H.S.); (J.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Evaluation and Application of Changbai Mountain Biological Gerplasm Resources of Jilin Province, Tonghua 134002, China
| | - Hao Zang
- College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133000, China; (J.F.); (Y.S.); (L.L.); (G.X.)
- Green Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Medicine, Tonghua Normal University, Tonghua 134002, China; (H.S.); (J.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Evaluation and Application of Changbai Mountain Biological Gerplasm Resources of Jilin Province, Tonghua 134002, China
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The Complete Chloroplast Genome Sequence of Laportea bulbifera (Sieb. et Zucc.) Wedd. and Comparative Analysis with Its Congeneric Species. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13122230. [PMID: 36553498 PMCID: PMC9778553 DOI: 10.3390/genes13122230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Laportea bulbifera (L. bulbifera) is an important medicinal plant of Chinese ethnic minorities, with high economic and medicinal value. However, the medicinal materials of the genus Laportea are prone to be misidentified due to the similar morphological characteristics of the original plants. Thus, it is crucial to discover their molecular marker points and to precisely identify these species for their exploitation and conservation. Here, this study reports detailed information on the complete chloroplast (cp) of L. bulbifera. The result indicates that the cp genome of L. bulbifera of 150,005 bp contains 126 genes, among them, 37 tRNA genes and 81 protein-coding genes. The analysis of repetition demonstrated that palindromic repeats are more frequent. In the meantime, 39 SSRs were also identified, the majority of which were mononucleotides Adenine-Thymine (A-T). Furthermore, we compared L. bulbifera with eight published Laportea plastomes, to explore highly polymorphic molecular markers. The analysis identified four hypervariable regions, including rps16, ycf1, trnC-GCA and trnG-GCC. According to the phylogenetic analysis, L. bulbifera was most closely related to Laportea canadensis (L. canadensis), and the molecular clock analysis speculated that the species originated from 1.8216 Mya. Overall, this study provides a more comprehensive analysis of the evolution of L. bulbifera from the perspective of phylogenetic and intrageneric molecular variation in the genus Laportea, which is useful for providing a scientific basis for further identification, taxonomic, and evolutionary studies of the genus.
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