Molecular Docking Studies and the Effect of Fluorophenylthiourea Derivatives on Glutathione-Dependent Enzymes

Bioinformatics comparison of hemolysin in different bacteria and experimental evaluation of anti-cancer properties of extracts of some hemolysin-producing bacteria

Cancer is one of the main causes of death in the world. Resistance to anticancer treatments in patients with advanced solid tumors leads to new treatments. Therefore, more alternative anticancer methods have been found over time with greater specificity against tumor cells and with less or no adverse effects on normal cells. Bacterial spores of obligate anaerobes exclusively germinate in the hypoxic/necrotic areas and not in the well oxygenated areas of the body. This unique phenomenon has been exploited in using bacterial spores as a remedy for cancer. Bacterial toxins also play a significant role in either directly killing tumor cells or altering the cellular processes of the tumor cells which ultimately leads to the inhibition and regression of the solid tumor. In the microbial environment, pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, or Streptococcus pyogenes produce hemolysin. This protein is used as an anti-cancer protein. To identify the production of hemolysin by bacteria, which can destroy cancer cells more effectively, different bacterial strains were first cultured in blood agar culture medium. The Strains that completely lysed red blood cells, creating transparent zones, were selected for further investigation. Then, to find out which strains have more ability to lyse red blood cells, the qualitative method of halo diameter measurement was used. Also, using quantitative methods, hemolysin strength in microtubes was determined compared to control samples. The results of the hemolysis in the microtube and the qualitative test results showed similar results. In the next step, the cell viability test was performed with the partially purified proteins. Then, bioinformatics studies such as secondary structure investigation, physicochemical properties, pseudo amino acid composition, and molecular docking were performed. The results of molecular docking showed that the hemolysin protein has the highest affinity for the cholesterol of the cytoplasmic membrane, respectively, of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria which play a significant role in either directly killing tumor cells or altering the cellular processes of the tumor cells which ultimately leads to the inhibition and regression of the solid tumor.

Affinity gel synthesis from the p-aminobenzoic acid derivative 4-amino-2-methylbenzoic acid and purification of polyphenol oxidase from various plant sources

The polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzyme, which causes enzymatic browning, has been repeatedly purified from fruit and vegetables by affinity chromatography. In the present research, Sepharose 4B-l-tyrosine-4-amino-2-methylbenzoic acid, a novel affinity gel for the purification of the PPO enzyme with high efficiency, was synthesized. Additionally, Sepharose 4B-l-tyrosine-p-aminobenzoic acid affinity gel, known in the literature, was also synthesized, and 9.02, 16.57, and 28.13 purification folds were obtained for the PPO enzymes of potato, mushroom, and eggplant by the reference gel. The PPO enzymes of potato, mushroom, and eggplant were purified 41.17, 64.47, and 56.78-fold from the new 4-amino-2-methylbenzoic acid gel. Following their isolation from the new affinity column, the assessment of PPO enzyme purity involved the utilization of SDS-PAGE. According to the results from SDS-PAGE and native PAGE, the molecular weight of each enzyme was 50 kDa. Then, the inhibition effects of naringin, morin hydrate, esculin hydrate, homovanillic acid, vanillic acid, phloridzin dihydrate, and p-coumaric acid phenolic compounds on purified potato, mushroom, and eggplant PPO enzyme were investigated. Among the tested phenolic compounds, morin hydrate was determined to be the most potent inhibitor on the potato (Ki: 0.07 ± 0.03 μM), mushroom (Ki: 0.7 ± 0.3 μM), and eggplant (Ki: 4.8 ± 1.2 μM) PPO enzymes. The studies found that the weakest inhibitor was homovanillic acid for the potato (Ki: 1112 ± 324 μM), mushroom (Ki: 567 ± 81 μM), and eggplant (Ki: 2016.7 ± 805.6 μM) PPO enzymes. Kinetic assays indicated that morin hydrate was a remarkable inhibitor on PPO.

Some pyrroles as inhibitors of the pentose phosphate pathways enzymes: An in vitro and molecular docking study

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) are pentose phosphate pathway enzymes. Compounds with a heterocyclic pyrrole ring system containing this atom can be derivatized with various functional groups into highly effective bioactive agents. In this study, pyrrole derivatives on these enzyme's activity were investigated. The IC50 values of different concentrations of pyrrole derivatives for G6PD were found in the range of 0.022-0.221 mM Ki values 0.021 ± 0.003-0.177 ± 0.021 and for 6PGD IC50 values 0.020-0.147, mM Ki values 0.013 ± 0.002-0.113 ± 0.030 mM. The 2-acetyl-1-methylpyrrole (1g) showed the best inhibition value for G6PD and 6PGD enzymes. In addition, in silico molecular docking experiments were performed to elucidate how these pyrrole derivatives (1a-g) interact with the binding sites of the target enzymes. The study's findings on pyrrole derivatives could be used to create innovative therapeutics that could be a treatment for many diseases, especially cancer manifestations.

Protective effects of esculetin against doxorubicin-induced toxicity correlated with oxidative stress in rat liver: In vivo and in silico studies

Doxorubicin (DOX) is widely used in cancer treatment but the dose-related toxicity of DOX on organs including the liver limit its use. Therefore, there is great interest in combining DOX with natural compounds with antioxidant properties to reduce toxicity and increase drug efficacy. Esculetin is a natural coumarin derivative with biological properties encompassing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. In light of these properties, this study was meticulously crafted to investigate the potential of esculetin in preventing doxorubicin (DOX)-induced hepatotoxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were divided into a total of six groups: control group, DOX group (administered DOX at a cumulative dose of 5 mg/kg intraperitoneally every other day for 2 weeks), E50 group (administered 50 mg/kg of esculetin intraperitoneally every day), E100 group (administered 100 mg/kg of esculetin intraperitoneally every day) and combined groups (DOX + E50 and DOX + E100) in which esculetin was administered together with DOX. The treatments, both with DOX alone and in combination with E50, manifested a reduction in catalase (CAT mRNA) levels in comparison to the control group. Notably, the enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), CAT, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) witnessed significant decreases in the liver of rats treated with DOX. Moreover, DOX treatment induced a statistically significant elevation in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, coupled with a concurrent decrease in glutathione (GSH) levels. Additionally, molecular docking studies were conducted. However, further studies are needed to confirm the hepatoprotective properties of esculetin and to precisely elucidate its mechanisms of action.

Isomer-Dependent Electron Affinities of Fluorophenyl Radicals, •C6H5-xFx (2 ≤ x ≤ 4)

Di-, tri-, and tetrafluorophenyl radicals each have three regioisomers, several of which can form multiple distinct radical structures. We present the photoelectron spectra of the di-, tri-, and tetrafluorophenide regioisomer anions generated from their associated fluorobenzene precursors. By comparing the spectra to the results of density functional theory calculations, we determine that in cases where more than one possible radical isomer is possible for a given regioisomer (radicals formed from 1,2-difluorobenzene, 1,3-difluorobenzene, 1,2,3-trifluorobenzene, and 1,2,4-trifluorobenzene) the most stable anion corresponds to a less stable neutral, suggesting that the reactive C-center on these fluorine-substituted phenyl groups can be controlled by charge state. Full analyses of the spectra and computational results yield further insights into the differences between the electronic and molecular structures of the fluorophenyl radicals and their associated anions.

Naringenin, Hesperidin and Quercetin Ameliorate Radiation-Induced Damage In Rats: In Vivo And In Silico Evaluations

In this study, we sought to determine how well naringenin, hesperidin, and quercetin prevented damage brought on by radiotherapy. During the investigation, 48 adult female Sprague Dawley rats were used. Eight groups of eight rats each were formed by randomly assigning the rats to the groups. The normal control group was represented by Group 1. Group 2 rats were those that received a dose of 15 Gray (Gy) of radiotherapy. The rats assigned to Group 3 received only Naringenin, whereas those assigned to Group 4 received only quercetine, and those assigned to Group 5 received only hesperidin. Rats in Group 6, 7 and 8 were received naringenin, quarcetin and hesperidin at a dose of 50 mg/kg daily for one week prior to radiotheraphy exposition. After radiotheraphy and phenolic compounds rats were sacrificed and some metabolic enzyme (aldose reductase (AR), sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), paraoxonase-1 (PON1), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and glutathione S-transferase (GST)) activity was determined in eye and brain tissues. It was found that phenolic compounds have protective effect against radiation-induced damage because of their anti-diabetic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, hesperidin was found to be superior to quercetin and naringenin in terms of enzyme activity efficacy. Furthermore, hesperidin exhibited favorable binding affinity for BChE in silico compared to other enzymes.

The effects of morin and methotrexate on pentose phosphate pathway enzymes and GR/GST/TrxR enzyme activities: An in vivo and in silico study

In this study, the mechanisms by which the enzymes glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) are inhibited by methotrexate (MTX) were investigated, as well as whether the antioxidant morin can mitigate or prevent these adverse effects in vivo and in silico. For 10 days, rats received oral doses of morin (50 and 100 mg/kg body weight). On the fifth day, a single intraperitoneal injection of MTX (20 mg/kg body weight) was administered to generate toxicity. Decreased activities of G6PD, 6PGD, GR, GST, and TrxR were associated with MTX-related toxicity while morin treatment increased the activity of the enzymes. The docking analysis indicated that H-bonds, pi-pi stacking, and pi-cation interactions were the dominant interactions in these enzyme-binding pockets. Furthermore, the docked poses of morin and MTX against GST were subjected to molecular dynamic simulations for 200 ns, to assess the stability of both complexes and also to predict key amino acid residues in the binding pockets throughout the simulation. The results of this study suggest that morin may be a viable means of alleviating the enzyme activities of important regulatory enzymes against MTX-induced toxicity.

Comprehensive Review on Recent Strategies for Management of Prostate Cancer: Therapeutic Targets and SAR

Prostate cancer is a disease that is affecting a large population worldwide. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has become a foundation for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer, as used in most clinical settings from neo-adjuvant to metastatic stage. In spite of the success of ADT in managing the disease in the majority of men, hormonal manipulation fails eventually. New molecules are developed for patients with various hormone-refractory diseases. Advancements in molecular oncology have increased understanding of numerous cellular mechanisms which control cell death in the prostate and these insights can lead to the development of more efficacious and tolerable therapies for carcinoma of the prostate. This review is focused on numerous therapies that might be a boon for prostate therapy like signaling inhibitors, vaccines, and inhibitors of androgen receptors. Along with these, various bioactive molecules and their derivatives are highlighted, which act as potential antiprostate cancer agents. This article also emphasized the recent advances in the field of medicinal chemistry of prostate cancer agents.

Targeting Ferroptosis: A Novel Strategy for the Treatment of Atherosclerosis

Since ferroptosis was reported in 2012, its application prospects in various diseases have been widely considered, initially as a treatment direction for tumors. Recent studies have shown that ferroptosis is closely related to the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis. The primary mechanism is to affect the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis through intracellular iron homeostasis, ROS and lipid peroxide production and metabolism, and a variety of intracellular signaling pathways. Inhibition of ferroptosis is effective in inhibiting the development of atherosclerosis, and it can bring a new direction for treating atherosclerosis. In this review, we discuss the mechanism of ferroptosis and focus on the relationship between ferroptosis and atherosclerosis, summarize the different types of ferroptosis inhibitors that have been widely studied, and discuss some issues worthy of attention in the treatment of atherosclerosis by targeting ferroptosis.

Protective effects of the Terminalia bellirica tannin-induced Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway in rats with high-altitude pulmonary hypertension

BACKGROUND

Oxidative stress and endothelial cell dysfunction induced by high-altitude hypoxia have important roles in the pathological process of high-altitude pulmonary hypertension (HAPH). Tannins present in Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. (TTR) have pharmacological activities that produce oxidation resistance and exert anti-inflammatory effects. Whether TTR exerts a protective effect on HAPH remains unknown.

METHODS

A rat model of HAPH was established. The mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) of the animals was measured, the serum levels of SOD, MDA, and GSH-Px were measured using ELISA, and the expression of Bax, Bcl-2, Nrf2, and HO-1 proteins in the lung tissue of each group of rats was measured using Western blotting. Pathological changes in the lung tissue were also observed. A model of damage to H₂O₂-induced pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs) was generated, and cell proliferation was measured using CCK-8 assays. Flow cytometry was used to measure ROS levels in PAECs. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of Bax, Bcl-2, Nrf2, and HO-1 proteins in PAECs.

RESULTS

The hemodynamic and pathologic findings showed that the mPAP of HAPH rats increased markedly, and the vascular wall thickness increased (P < 0.05). TTR reduced mPAP, alleviated or slowed pulmonary arterial remodeling, increased GSH-Px and SOD activity, lowered the level of MDA (P < 0.05), and downregulated the expression of Bax in the lung tissues of HAPH rats, while the expression of Bcl-2, Nrf2, and HO-1 was upregulated (P < 0.05). The results of the cell experiments showed that TTR inhibited H₂O₂-induced PAEC apoptosis and ROS production (P < 0.05), downregulated the expression of Bax in PAECs, and upregulated the expression of Bcl-2, Nrf2, and HO-1 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that TTR reduces pulmonary arterial pressure, decreases oxidative stress during HAPH, and exerts protective effects in rats with HAPH and that its mechanism of action is related to regulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.