The In Vitro and In Silico Inhibition Mechanism of Glutathione Reductase by Resorcinol Derivatives: A Molecular Docking Study

In vitro inhibition potency of malononitrile derivatives on the activity of two pentose phosphate pathway enzymes: accompanied by molecular docking evaluation

Many disorders, including cancer and malaria, could be targeted via the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), whose products are key in biosynthetic reactions in cells. The goal of this study was to find new PPP inhibitors. The inhibition effects of malononitrile derivatives on Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) were analyzed through in vitro experiments. Besides, molecular docking studies were performed to predict the interactions having role in inhibition of compounds. K i constants of derivatives were found between 4.24 ± 0.46-69.63 ± 7.75 µM for G6PD and 1.91 ± 0.12-95.07 ± 11.08 µM for 6PGD. Derivatives indicated non-competitive inhibition on both enzymes except for compound 4. The findings of the molecular docking studies revealed that free-binding energy estimations agreed with in vitro data. The structure of these malononitrile derivatives may guide for drug discovery in targeting the PPP.

Nutritional value, HPLC-DAD analysis and biological activities of Ceratonia siliqua L. pulp based on in vitro and in silico studies

The phytochemical, nutritional, and biological features of wild carob pulp from Tanzight (TN), Ait-Waada (AW), and Tizi-ghnayn (TG) in Azilal were studied. The results of the study reveal that the carob pulp examined has a low-fat level. AW had the most total sugar (78.34 ± 3.00%), total reducing sugar (27.20 ± 2.89%), crude fiber (14.21 ± 1.23%), sucrose (24.303 ± 0.038%), sodium (153.7 ± 18.52 mg/kg), pH (5.599 ± 0.05), and total polyphenol content (4134.50 ± 17.91 mg GAE/100 g DW). TG has higher amounts of potassium (11373 ± 153.7 mg/kg), calcium (4345 ± 7.211 mg/kg), phosphorus (3551 ± 175.1 mg/kg), magnesium (1347 ± 52.43 mg/kg), fructose (7.635 ± 0.012%), and total flavonoids (1678.08 ± 24.05 mg RE/100 g DW). TN has the highest levels of crude protein (5.607 ± 0.047%), moisture (9.33 ± 0.57%), ash (4.16 ± 0.02%), glucose (2.956 ± 0.047%), and total condensed tannins (529.61 ± 6.76 mg CE/100 g DW). The ethanol extract derived from AW exhibited noteworthy antioxidant activity, as evidenced by its total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of 1245.83 ± 26.33 µg ascorbic acid equivalent /mg extract and IC50 values of 18.45 ± 1.41 µg/mL, 124.98 ± 5.21 µg/mL, and 24.87 ± 1.30 µmol/mL for 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH), beta carotene (β-Carotene), and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-éthylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS), respectively. Furthermore, AW has demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against a variety of bacterial and fungal strains using disc diffusion and broth dilution techniques. The analysed samples also demonstrated encouraging anti-cancer effects on MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-436, and MCF-7 cancer cell lines. The biological activities were confirmed through molecular docking analysis, identifying naringin and quercetin 3-O-β-glucoside as related compounds. Additionally, ADME analyses have revealed that all the synthetic compounds examined in this study demonstrate high intestinal absorption, meet Lipinski's criteria, indicating their potential suitability for oral drug development. Based on these findings, wild carob pulp from Azilal province may contain bioactive compounds and nutrients.

Protective effect of bromelain on some metabolic enzyme activities in tyloxapol-induced hyperlipidemic rats

Elevation of one or more plasma lipids, such as phospholipids, cholesterol esters, cholesterol, and triglycerides, is known as hyperlipidemia. In humans and experimental animals, bromelain, the primary active ingredient isolated from pineapple stems, has several positive effects, including anti-tumor growth, anticoagulation, and anti-inflammation. Hence, the purpose of this study was to determine the possible protective impact of bromelain on some metabolic enzymes (paraoxonase-1, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase, sorbitol dehydrogenase [SDH], aldose reductase [AR], butyrylcholinesterase [BChE], and acetylcholinesterase [AChE]), activity in the heart, kidney, and liver of rats with tyloxapol-induced hyperlipidemia. Rats were divided into three groups: control group, HL-control group (tyloxapol 400 mg/kg, i.p. administered group), and HL+bromelain (group receiving bromelain 250 mg/kg/o.d. prior to administration of tyloxapol 400 mg/kg, i.p.). BChE, SDH, and AR enzyme activities were significantly increased in all tissues in HL-control compared to the control, whereas the activity of other studied enzymes was significantly decreased. Bromelain had a regulatory effect on all tissues and enzyme activities. In conclusion, these results prove that bromelain is a new mediator that decreases hyperlipidemia.

Marine-Derived Streptomyces sennicomposti GMY01 with Anti-Plasmodial and Anticancer Activities: Genome Analysis, In Vitro Bioassay, Metabolite Profiling, and Molecular Docking

To discover novel antimalarial and anticancer compounds, we carried out a genome analysis, bioassay, metabolite profiling, and molecular docking of marine sediment actinobacteria strain GMY01. The whole-genome sequence analysis revealed that Streptomyces sp. GMY01 (7.9 Mbp) is most similar to Streptomyces sennicomposti strain RCPT1-4T with an average nucleotide identity (ANI) and ANI based on BLAST+ (ANIb) values of 98.09 and 97.33% (>95%). An in vitro bioassay of the GMY01 bioactive on Plasmodium falciparum FCR3, cervical carcinoma of HeLa cell and lung carcinoma of HTB cells exhibited moderate activity (IC50 value of 46.06; 27.31 and 33.75 µg/mL) with low toxicity on Vero cells as a normal cell (IC50 value of 823.3 µg/mL). Metabolite profiling by LC-MS/MS analysis revealed that the active fraction of GMY01 contained carbohydrate-based compounds, C17H29NO14 (471.15880 Da) as a major compound (97.50%) and mannotriose (C18H32O16; 504.16903 Da, 1.96%) as a minor compound. Molecular docking analysis showed that mannotriose has a binding affinity on glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) of P. falciparum and on autophagy proteins (mTORC1 and mTORC2) of cancer cells. Streptomyces sennicomposti GMY01 is a potential bacterium producing carbohydrate-based bioactive compounds with anti-plasmodial and anticancer activities and with low toxicity to normal cells.

Structure-Activity Relationship of Methyl 4-Aminobenzoate Derivatives as Being Drug Candidate Targeting Glutathione Related Enzymes: in Vitro and in Silico Approaches

A thiol compound, glutathione, is essential for healthy cell defence against xenobiotics and oxidative stress. Glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) are two glutathione-related enzymes that function in the antioxidant and the detoxification systems. In this study, potential inhibitory effects of methyl 4-aminobenzoate derivatives on GR and GST were examined in vitro. GR and GST were isolated from human erythrocytes with 7.63 EU/mg protein and 5.66 EU/mg protein specific activity, respectively. It was found that compound 1 (methyl 4-amino-3-bromo-5-fluorobenzoate with K_i value of 0.325±0.012 μM) and compound 5 (methyl 4-amino-2-nitrobenzoate with K_i value of 92.41±22.26 μM) inhibited GR and GST stronger than other derivatives. Furthermore, a computer-aided method was used to predict the binding affinities of derivatives, ADME characteristics, and toxicities. Derivatives 4 (methyl 4-amino-2-bromobenzoate) and 6 (methyl 4-amino-2-chlorobenzoate) were estimated to have the lowest binding energies into GR and GST receptors, respectively according to results of in silico studies.

Assessment of hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory properties of walnut (Juglans regia) seed coat extract and modulates some metabolic enzymes activity in triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemia in rat kidney, liver, and heart

Atherosclerosis and cognitive impairment are both influenced by hyperlipidemia. Due to their high margin of safety and low cost, natural chemicals have recently attracted particular attention in the context of the treatment of disease. Hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate the possible amendatory impact of ethanol extract walnut (Juglans regia) seed coat (E-WSC) on some metabolic enzymes (glutathione reductase (GR), paraoxonase-1 (PON1), aldose reductase (AR), sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE)) activity in the liver, kidney, and heart of rats with Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemia. Rats were divided into five groups: control group, HL-Control group (Triton WR-1339 400 mg/kg, i.p administered group), E- WSC + 150 (150 mg/kg,o.d given group), E- WSC + 300 (E- WSC 300 mg/kg, o.d given group) and HL+ E-WSC + 300 (Group receiving E- WSC 300 mg/kg, o.d 30 min prior to administration of Triton WR-1339 400 mg/kg, i.p). In HL-Control, AR, SDH, and BChE enzyme activity was significantly increased in all tissues compared to the control, while the activity of other studied enzymes was significantly decreased. The effects of hyperlipidemia on balance were improved and alterations in the activity of the investigated metabolic enzymes were prevented by E-WSC. As a result, promising natural compounds that can be used as adjuvant therapy in the treatment of cognitive disorders and hyperlipidemia may be found in E-WSC powder.

Screening of in vitro and in silico effect of Fluorophenylthiourea compounds on glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase enzymes

Inhibition studies of enzymes in the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) have recently emerged as a promising technique for pharmacological intervention in several illnesses. Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) are the most important enzymes of the PPP. For this purpose, in the current study, we examined the effect of some fluorophenylthiourea on G6PD and 6PGD enzyme activity. These compounds exhibited moderate inhibitory activity against G6PD and 6PGD with K_I values ranging from 21.60 ± 8.42 to 39.70 ± 11.26 μM, and 15.82 ± 1.54 to 29.97 ± 5.72 μM, respectively. 2,6-difluorophenylthiourea displayed the most potent inhibitory effect for G6PD, and 2-fluorophenylthiourea demonstrated the most substantial inhibitory effect for 6PGD. Furthermore, the molecular docking analyses of the fluorophenylthioureas, competitive inhibitors, were performed to understand the binding interactions at the enzymes' binding site.

Resorcinol Derivatives as Novel Aldose Reductase Inhibitors: In Silico and In Vitro Evaluation

Background:

The polyol pathway, an alternative way of carbohydrate metabolism, is activated by hyperglycemia. Aldose reductase (AR), the first and rate-limiting enzyme of the polyol pathway, is responsible for the reduction of glucose to sorbitol. Inhibiting the aldose reductase enzyme and reducing the polyol pathway is considered an effective method to prevent and postpone the onset of diabetic complications.

Objective:

Therefore, in this work, we investigate the inhibition effects of certain resorcinol derivatives and the positive control compound quercetin on the AR enzyme in vitro and in silico. These phenolic compounds, whose inhibitory effects on the AR enzyme were investigated, were also compared with known drugs in terms of their drug-like characteristics.

Methods:

Three methods were used to determine the inhibitory effects of resorcinol derivatives on recombinant human AR enzyme. After the in vitro inhibition effects were determined spectrophotometrically, the binding energy and binding modes were determined by molecular docking method. Finally, the MM-GBSA method was used to determine the free binding energies of the inhibitors for the AR enzyme.

Results:

5-pentylresorcinol compound showed the strongest inhibition effect on recombinant human AR enzyme with an IC50 value of 9.90 μM. The IC50 values of resorcinol, 5-methylresorcinol, 4- ethylresorcinol, 4-hexylresorcinol, 2-methylresorcinol, and 2,5-dimethylresorcinol compounds were determined as 49.50 μM, 43.31 μM, 19.25 μM, 17.32 μM, 28.87 μM, 57.75 μM, respectively.

Conclusion:

The results of this research showed that resorcinol compounds are effective AR inhibitors. These findings are supported by molecular docking, molecular mechanics, and ADME investigations undertaken to corroborate the experimental in vitro results.

Luminescent organic porous crystals from non-cyclic molecules and their applications

Organic porous crystals from small and non-cyclic organic molecules can be constructed by various intermolecular weak interactions. Owing to their precise stacking types, intermolecular interaction and pore microstructure, the relationship...

The effects of Daucus carota extract against PC3, PNT1a prostate cells, acetylcholinesterase, glutathione S-transferase, and α-glycosidase; an in vitro-in silico study

Daucus carota L. ssp. major (DCM) plant is widely used in traditional medicine to treat some types of cancer and various diseases. Therefore, we evaluated the biological activities of this plant to define its effects against prostate cancer (PCa), Alzheimer's disease (AD), oxidation, and diabetes mellitus (DM) as well as identified its phenolic composition. To determine the anti-cancer properties of the plant extract, we treated PCa cells with the extract at a concentration range of 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mg/ml. Significant results were obtained against the PC3 cells compared to normal PNT1a prostate epithelial cells. As a result of precise measurements at the millimolar level, it was observed that the plant extract showed an effective inhibition (IC₅₀ ) against glutathione S-transferase (GST; 12.84 mM), acetyl cholinesterase (AChE; 15.07 mM), and α-Gly (11.75 mM) enzymes when compared with standard inhibitors. Antioxidant activities of DCM methanol extract were determined via two well-known in vitro techniques. The extracts showed antioxidant activities against the DPPH and ABTS⁺ . The LC-ESI-MS/MS was used to determine the phenolic compounds of methanol extract from DCM. Chlorogenic acid (2,089.096 µg/g), shikimic acid (193.14 µg/g), and coumarin (113.604 µg/g) were characterized as major phenolic compounds. In addition, the interactions of chlorogenic acid, chrysin, coumarin, and shikimic acid with the used three enzymes have been calculated using molecular docking simulation. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Plant natural phenolic compounds have protective effects such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticarcinogen, and enzyme inhibitory. Therefore, it has an important place in the food and pharmaceutical industry. The present study aims to reveal the enzyme inhibitory, antioxidant, and anticarcinogenic properties of the Daucus carota ssp. Major (DCM) plant extract. Significant results were obtained against the PC3 cells compared to normal PNT1a prostate epithelial cells. DCM extract demonstrated considerable antioxidant activity and inhibitory potential on used metabolic enzymes. These biological effects are thought to have a relationship with rich chemical composition.