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Akermi S, Smaoui S, Chaari M, Elhadef K, Gentile R, Hait M, Roymahapatra G, Mellouli L. Combined in vitro/in silico approaches, molecular dynamics simulations and safety assessment of the multifunctional properties of thymol and carvacrol: A comparative insight. Chem Biodivers 2024; 21:e202301575. [PMID: 38116885 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202301575] [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: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Bioactive compounds derived from medicinal plants have acquired immense attentiveness in drug discovery and development. The present study investigated in vitro and predicted in silico the antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties of thymol and carvacrol, and assessed their safety. The performed microbiological assays against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica Typhimurium revealed that the minimal inhibitory concentration values ranged from (0.078 to 0.312 mg/mL) and the minimal fungicidal concentration against Candida albicans was 0.625 mg/mL. Molecular docking simulations, stipulated that these compounds could inhibit bacterial replication and transcription functions by targeting DNA and RNA polymerases receptors with docking scores varying between (-5.1 to -6.9 kcal/mol). Studied hydroxylated monoterpenes could hinder C. albicans growth by impeding lanosterol 14α-demethylase enzyme and showed a (ΔG=-6.2 and -6.3 kcal/mol). Computational studies revealed that thymol and carvacrol could target the SARS-Cov-2 spike protein of the Omicron variant RBD domain. Molecular dynamics simulations disclosed that these compounds have a stable dynamic behavior over 100 ns as compared to remdesivir. Chemo-computational toxicity prediction using Protox II webserver indicated that thymol and carvacrol could be safely and effectively used as drug candidates to tackle bacterial, fungal, and viral infections as compared to chemical medication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarra Akermi
- Laboratory of Microbial and Enzymatic Biotechnologies and Biomolecules. Center of Biotechnology of Sfax (CBS), University of Sfax, Road of Sidi Mansour Km 6, P.O. Box 1177, Sfax, 3018, Sfax-, Tunisia
| | - Slim Smaoui
- Laboratory of Microbial and Enzymatic Biotechnologies and Biomolecules. Center of Biotechnology of Sfax (CBS), University of Sfax, Road of Sidi Mansour Km 6, P.O. Box 1177, Sfax, 3018, Sfax-, Tunisia
| | - Moufida Chaari
- Laboratory of Microbial and Enzymatic Biotechnologies and Biomolecules. Center of Biotechnology of Sfax (CBS), University of Sfax, Road of Sidi Mansour Km 6, P.O. Box 1177, Sfax, 3018, Sfax-, Tunisia
| | - Khaoula Elhadef
- Laboratory of Microbial and Enzymatic Biotechnologies and Biomolecules. Center of Biotechnology of Sfax (CBS), University of Sfax, Road of Sidi Mansour Km 6, P.O. Box 1177, Sfax, 3018, Sfax-, Tunisia
| | - Rocco Gentile
- Institute for Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Milan Hait
- Department of Chemistry, Dr. C. V. Raman University, Kota, 495113, Bilaspur, India
| | | | - Lotfi Mellouli
- Laboratory of Microbial and Enzymatic Biotechnologies and Biomolecules. Center of Biotechnology of Sfax (CBS), University of Sfax, Road of Sidi Mansour Km 6, P.O. Box 1177, Sfax, 3018, Sfax-, Tunisia
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Carmo Bastos ML, Silva-Silva JV, Neves Cruz J, Palheta da Silva AR, Bentaberry-Rosa AA, da Costa Ramos G, de Sousa Siqueira JE, Coelho-Ferreira MR, Percário S, Santana Barbosa Marinho P, Marinho AMDR, de Oliveira Bahia M, Dolabela MF. Alkaloid from Geissospermum sericeum Benth. & Hook.f. ex Miers (Apocynaceae) Induce Apoptosis by Caspase Pathway in Human Gastric Cancer Cells. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16050765. [PMID: 37242548 DOI: 10.3390/ph16050765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer is among the major causes of death from neoplasia leading causes of death worldwide, with high incidence rates and problems related to its treatment. Here, we outline how Geissospermum sericeum exerts antitumor activity on the ACP02 cell line (human gastric adenocarcinoma) and the mechanism of cell death. The ethanol extract and fractions, neutral fraction and alkaloid fraction, were characterized by thin-layer chromatography and HPLC-DAD, yielding an alkaloid (geissoschizoline N4-methylchlorine) identified by NMR. The cytotoxicity activity of the samples (ethanol extract, neutral fraction, alkaloid fraction, and geissoschizoline N4-methylchlorine) in HepG2 and VERO cells was determined by MTT. The ACP02 cell line was used to assess the anticancer potential. Cell death was quantified with the fluorescent dyes Hoechst 33342, propidium iodide, and fluorescein diacetate. The geissoschizoline N4-methylchlorine was evaluated in silico against caspase 3 and 8. In the antitumor evaluation, there was observed a more significant inhibitory effect of the alkaloid fraction (IC50 18.29 µg/mL) and the geissoschizoline N4-methylchlorine (IC50 12.06 µg/mL). However, geissoschizoline N4-methylchlorine showed lower cytotoxicity in the VERO (CC50 476.0 µg/mL) and HepG2 (CC50 503.5 µg/mL) cell lines, with high selectivity against ACP02 cells (SI 39.47 and 41.75, respectively). The alkaloid fraction showed more significant apoptosis and necrosis in 24 h and 48 h, with increased necrosis in higher concentrations and increased exposure time. For the alkaloid, apoptosis and necrosis were concentration- and time-dependent, with a lower necrosis rate. Molecular modeling studies demonstrated that geissoschizoline N4-methylchlorine could occupy the active site of caspases 3 and 8 energetically favorably. The results showed that fractionation contributed to the activity with pronounced selectivity for ACP02 cells, and geissoschizoline N4-methylchlor is a promising candidate for caspase inhibitors of apoptosis in gastric cancer. Thus, this study provides a scientific basis for the biological functions of Geissospermum sericeum, as well as demonstrates the potential of the geissoschizoline N4-methylchlorine in the treatment of gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirian Letícia Carmo Bastos
- Post-Graduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
- Post-Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
| | - João Victor Silva-Silva
- Laboratory of Medicinal and Computational Chemistry, Institute of Physics of São Carlos, University of São Paulo, São Carlos 13563-120, SP, Brazil
| | - Jorddy Neves Cruz
- Post-Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
| | | | | | - Gisele da Costa Ramos
- Post-Graduate Program in Chemistry, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
| | | | - Márlia Regina Coelho-Ferreira
- Emílio Goeldi Paraense Museum, Coordination of Botany, Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications, Belém 66077-830, PA, Brazil
| | - Sandro Percário
- Post-Graduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
| | | | | | - Marcelo de Oliveira Bahia
- Laboratory of Human Cytogenetic, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
| | - Maria Fâni Dolabela
- Post-Graduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
- Post-Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
- Post-Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Innovation, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
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