Binding affinity analysis and ADMET prediction of epigallocatechine gallate (EGCG) derivatives for AP-1 protein: a drug target for liver cancer

In silico identification of mimicking molecule(s) triggering von Willebrand factor in human: a molecular drug target for regulating coagulation pathway

Blood coagulation is a complex and dynamic process wherein the body activates its emergency mechanism to stop bleeding and wound healing via the interactions of prothrombotic and antithrombotic agents. von Willebrand factor (VWF) is a complex glycoprotein and initial component of the hemostasis pathway which serves a multipurpose role in blood coagulation process. There are reports of various plants that contain several bioactive compounds possessing properties of inducing blood coagulation directly or indirectly. In the present study, efforts have been made to identify bioactive compounds that may play a significant role in regulation of the coagulation cascade by accelerating VWF and thus enhance the hemostasis process. An antidiuretic peptide drug, Desmopressin, works on VWF and releases them in circulation. Forty-seven compounds from different plant sources were screened through molecular docking, out of which two compounds, Emodin and Peruvianoside II, showed more binding affinity than the reference drug Desmopressin. Emodin and Peruvianoside II showed binding energies -7.2 and -7.0 kcal/mol, respectively, when docked with VWF, whereas Desmopressin displayed less binding energy (-6.9 kcal/mol). Emodin belongs to anthraquinone from Rumex hastasus and Peruvianoside II belongs to flavanone glycosides from Thevetia peruviana. The mimicking potential of top identified molecules with respect to the drug was confirmed through simulation analysis. Besides, the molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) study (for 20 ns) showed that the Peruvianoside II protein complex was energetically more stable than Emodin protein complex. Based on the results, Peruvianoside II possesses great potential and thus may be considered for development of drugs for hemostasis.

Recent Advances in the Understanding of the Health Benefits and Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Green Tea Polyphenols

Tea, leaf, or bud from the plant Camellia sinensis, make up some of the beverages popularly consumed in different parts of the world as green tea, oolong tea, or black tea. More particularly, as a nonfermented tea, green tea has gained more renown because of the significant health benefits assigned to its rich content in polyphenols. As a main constituent, green tea polyphenols were documented for their antioxidant, anti-inflammation, anticancer, anticardiovascular, antimicrobial, antihyperglycemic, and antiobesity properties. Recent reports demonstrate that green tea may exert a positive effect on the reduction of medical chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and diabetes. The health benefits of green teas, in particular EGCG, are widely investigated, and these effects are known to be primarily associated with the structure and compositions of its polyphenols. This Review focuses on the diverse constituents of green tea polyphenols and their molecular mechanisms from the perspective of their potential therapeutic function. Recent advances of green tea polyphenols on their bioavailability, bioaccessibility, and microbiota were also summarized in this article. Dietary supplementation with green tea represents an attractive alternative toward promoting human health.

Identification of new drug-like compounds from millets as Xanthine oxidoreductase inhibitors for treatment of Hyperuricemia: A molecular docking and simulation study

Xanthine oxidoreductase plays an important role in formation of uric acid and its regulation during purine catabolism. Uncontrolled expression of this enzyme is responsible for overproduction and deposition of uric acid in blood that is potentially injurious because it can breakdown DNA and protein molecules, triggering many diseases. Human Xanthine oxidoreductase (HsXOR) is considered to be a pharmacological target for the treatment of hyperuricemia. Many of the HsXOR-inhibitor drugs such as Febuxostat and Allopurinol are known to have significant adverse effects. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new HsXOR-inhibitor drugs with less or no toxicity for the long-term treatment or prevention of hyperuricemia-related diseases. Many nutritious and medical functions have been reported in millets. Present work deals with identification of millet derived compounds in terms of their interaction with target, HsXOR through molecular docking and dynamic simulation studies. Of thirty two chosen compounds, Luteolin and Quercitin showed more binding affinity with HsXOR than reference drugs, Febuxostat and Allopurinol. Molecular dynamics simulations (20 ns long) revealed that Luteolin-protein complex was energetically more stable than Quercitin-protein complex. The millet derived compounds i.e. Luteolin and Quercitin showed binding energy -9.7 kcal/mol whereas the known drugs i.e. Febuxostat and Allopurinol showed binding energy -8.0 kcal/mol and -5.5 kcal/mol respectively. Based on the study, Luteolin possess high potential to be considered for trial as an inhibitor of HsXOR as it may regulate the pathway by inhibiting HsXOR. Further investigations are proposed to consider Luteolin for developing future drugs from millets and other natural sources.

Molecular modeling of non-covalent binding of Ligustrum lucidum secoiridoid glucosides to AP-1/matrix metalloproteinase pathway components

Ligustrum lucidum secoiridoid glucosides have been demonstrated to treat various types of diseases such as inflammation, pain, hepatotoxicity and hyperlipidermic as well as tonic for liver and kidney. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a key role upon the pathology of photoaging. The present computational study showed that among the six secoiridoid glucosides (ligustroside, lucidumoside A, lucidumoside C, neonuezhenide, oleoside dimethylester, and oleuropein), ligustroside and lucidumoside A competitively inhibit all MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-9 activities in the docking models. The molecular docking analysis revealed a network of interactions between MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-9 and the ligands; ligustroside and lucidumoside A, and oxygen-containing and hydrophobic functional groups appear to be responsible for these enhanced interactions. The effect of ligustroside and lucidumoside A on the transcription factor AP-1 action was also investigated using molecular docking and dynamics simulations. The experiments suggested that inhibition of an AP-1-DNA complex formation could be on account of the direct interference of AP-1 binding onto the DNA binding sequence by ligustroside and lucidumoside A. The results suggest that both compounds have the highest potential for application as an anti-aging agent with the MMP inhibitory and anti-transcriptional activities.