Search

HIV-1 can rapidly infect the brain upon initial infection, establishing latent reservoirs that induce neuronal damage and/or death, resulting in HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder. Though anti-HIV-1 antiretrovirals (ARVs) suppress viral load, the blood-brain barrier limits drug access to the brain, largely because of highly expressed efflux proteins like P-glycoprotein (P-gp). While no FDA-approved P-gp inhibitor currently exists, HIV-1 protease inhibitors show promise as partial P-gp inhibitors, potentially enhancing drug delivery to the brain. Herein, we employed docking and molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate key differences in P-gp’s interactions with several antiretrovirals, including protease inhibitors, with known inhibitory or substrate-like behaviors towards P-gp. Our results led us to hypothesize new mechanistic details of small-molecule efflux by and inhibition of P-gp, where the “Lower Pocket” in P-gp’s transmembrane domain serves as the primary initial site for small-molecule binding. Subsequently, this pocket merges with the more traditionally studied drug binding site—the “Upper Pocket”—thus funneling small-molecule drugs, such as ARVs, towards the Upper Pocket for efflux. Furthermore, our results reinforce the understanding that both binding energetics and changes in protein dynamics are crucial in discerning small molecules as non-substrates, substrates, or inhibitors of P-gp. Our findings indicate that interactions between P-gp and inhibitory ARVs induce bridging of transmembrane domain helices, impeding P-gp conformational changes and contributing to the inhibitory behavior of these ARVs. Overall, insights gained in this study could serve to guide the design of future P-gp-targeting therapeutics for a wide range of pathological conditions and diseases, including HIV-1.

Cathepsin L (CTSL) is a promising therapeutic target for metabolic disorders. Current pharmacological interventions targeting CTSL have demonstrated potential in reducing body weight gain, serum insulin levels, and improving glucose tolerance. However, the clinical application of CTSL inhibitors remains limited. In this study, we used a combination of artificial intelligence and experimental methods to identify new CTSL inhibitors from natural products. Through a robust deep learning model and molecular docking, we screened 150 molecules from natural products for experimental validation. At a concentration of 100 µM, we found that 36 of them exhibited more than 50 % inhibition of CTSL. Notably, 13 molecules displayed over 90 % inhibition and exhibiting concentration-dependent effects. The molecular dynamics simulation on the two most potent inhibitors, Plumbagin and Beta-Lapachone, demonstrated stable interaction at the CTSL active site. Enzyme kinetics studies have shown that these inhibitors exert an uncompetitive inhibitory effect on CTSL. In conclusion, our research identifies Plumbagin and Beta-Lapachone as potential CTSL inhibitors, offering promising candidates for the treatment of metabolic disorders and illustrating the effectiveness of artificial intelligence in drug discovery.

Objective: Biological studies have elucidated that phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the serine synthesis pathway in humans that is abnormally expressed in numerous cancers. Inhibition of the PHGDH activity is thought to be an attractive approach for novel anti-cancer therapy. The development of structurally diverse novel PHGDH inhibitors with high efficiency and low toxicity is a promising drug discovery strategy. Methods: A ligand-based 3D-QSAR pharmacophore model was developed using the HypoGen algorithm methodology of Discovery Studio. The selected pharmacophore model was further validated by test set validation, cost analysis, and Fischer randomization validation and was then used as a 3D query to screen compound libraries with various chemical scaffolds. The estimated activity, druglikeness, molecular docking, growing scaffold, and molecular dynamics simulation processes were applied in combination to reduce the number of virtual hits. Results: The potential candidates against PHGDH were screened based on estimated activity, docking scores, predictive absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADME/T) properties, and molecular dynamics simulation. Conclusion: Finally, an all-in-one combination was employed successfully to design and develop three potential anti-cancer candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ligand 2-[2′-(benzimidazole)azo]-4,6-dimethyl benzoic acid (BADMB) was employed to create coordination complexes with Pd(II), Co(III), and Pt(IV) ions. A variety of analytical methods were utilized to verify the structures of the synthesized chelates, including microanalysis, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, mass spectrometry, magnetic susceptibility, molar conductivity, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermal analysis. The stoichiometry of the metal complexes was 1:1 [M:L] in the case of both Pd(II) and Pt(IV) complexes while that of the Co(III) complex was 1:2 [M:L]. The results of molar conductivity measurements confirmed that all of the complexes are electrolytes and that they fall within the range 15.74–40.11 Ω−1 cm2 mol−1. The findings indicated that the Co(III) and Pt(IV) complexes adopt an octahedral geometry, with the formulas [Co(BADMB)2]Cl·H2O and [Pt(BADMB)Cl3]·H2O, respectively. In contrast, the Pd(II) complex, represented by the general formula [Pd(BADMB)Cl]·H2O, has a square planar geometry. BADMB acts as a trident (N,N,O) ligand through two nitrogen atoms from the benzimidazole ring and an azo group and one oxygen atom of the carboxyl group. The antimicrobial activity of these compounds was evaluated against a variety of microorganisms, including Streptococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, Penicillium spp., and Aspergillus, as well as multidrug resistance. In addition, all compounds were active against Penicillium spp. fungi compared to the other microorganisms examined. Moreover, the cytotoxic effects of the BADMB, Pd(II), and Pt(IV) complexes were evaluated in a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2) and a normal cell line (WRL68). A molecular docking study was performed using MOE 2015 software and the PDBsum online server. The compounds showed a binding free energy greater than 5 kcal/mol and an RMSD value was present in the range of 1.41 to 2.01 Å, indicating their potential as ligands for further molecular studies with selected targets.

Abstract Huanglian Jiedu Decoction (HJD) is a well-known Traditional Chinese Medicine formula that has been used for liver protection in thousands of years. However, the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of HJD in treating drug-induced liver injury (DILI) remain unknown. In this study, a total of 26 genes related to both HJD and DILI were identified, which are corresponding to a total of 41 potential active compounds in HJD. KEGG analysis revealed that Tryptophan metabolism pathway is particularly important. The overlapped genes from KEGG and GO analysis indicated the significance of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP1B1. Experimental results confirmed that HJD has a protective effect on DILI through Tryptophan metabolism pathway. In addition, the active ingredients Corymbosin, and Moslosooflavone were found to have relative strong intensity in UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis, showing interactions with CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP1B1 through molecule docking. These findings could provide insights into the treatment effects of HJD on DILI.

Huanglian Jiedu Decoction (HJD) is a well-known Traditional Chinese Medicine formula that has been used for liver protection in thousands of years. However, the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of HJD in treating drug-induced liver injury (DILI) remain unknown. In this study, a total of 26 genes related to both HJD and DILI were identified, which are corresponding to a total of 41 potential active compounds in HJD. KEGG analysis revealed that Tryptophan metabolism pathway is particularly important. The overlapped genes from KEGG and GO analysis indicated the significance of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP1B1. Experimental results confirmed that HJD has a protective effect on DILI through Tryptophan metabolism pathway. In addition, the active ingredients Corymbosin, and Moslosooflavone were found to have relative strong intensity in UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis, showing interactions with CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP1B1 through molecule docking. These findings could provide insights into the treatment effects of HJD on DILI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of anaerobic treatment on the non-volatile components and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity in purple-colored leaf tea. Results showed that after 8 h of anaerobic treatment, the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content significantly increased from 0.02 mg/g to 1.72 mg/g (p

Coumarin derivatives were synthesized herein from 3-acetyl coumarin and 4-(pyrimidin-2-yldiazenyl) antipyrine, leading to the azo chalcone intermediate compound. The final spiro-heterocyclic coumarins were produced through the cyclization of the azo-chalcone with thiourea, guanidine hydrochloride, benzene-1,2-diamine, 2-aminophenol, and hydroxylamine hydrochloride, respectively. The obtained target compounds were purified by column chromatography and characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C-NMR and elemental analysis. The antibacterial activity of the synthesized compounds was evaluated in vitro against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. One of the compounds showed significant antibacterial activity. Furthermore, the docking study of this compound with DNA gyrase for E. coli and S. aureus bacterial strains was investigated, which revealed vital interactions and binding.

Exserolides are isocoumarin derivatives containing lactone moiety. Recently, some isocoumarins have been demonstrated to ameliorate hyperlipidemia, a major factor for inducing cardiovascular diseases. However, the effects and mechanisms of action of exserolides on hyperlipidemia are not known. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the marine fungus Setosphaeria sp.-derived exserolides (compounds I, J, E, and F) exert lipid-lowering effects via improving reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) in vitro. RAW264.7 macrophages and HepG2 cells were used to establish lipid-laden models, and the levels of intracellular lipids and RCT-related proteins were determined by assay kits and Western blotting, respectively. We observed that exserolides (at a 5 μM concentration) significantly decreased intracellular cholesterol and triglyceride levels in oxidized low-density lipoprotein-laden RAW264.7 cells and markedly improved [3H]-cholesterol efflux. Among the four tested compounds, exserolide J increased the protein levels of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), and liver X receptor α (LXRα). Furthermore, treatment with exserolides significantly decreased oleic acid-laden lipid accumulation in HepG2 hepatocytes. Mechanistically, exserolides enhance PPARα protein levels; furthermore, compound J increases cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase A1 and LXRα protein levels. Molecular docking revealed that exserolides, particularly compound J, can interact with PPARα and LXRα proteins. These data suggest that the terminal carboxyl group of compound J plays a key role in lowering lipid levels by stimulating LXRα and PPARα proteins. In conclusion, compound J exhibits powerful lipid-lowering effects in vitro. However, its hypolipidemic effects in vivo should be investigated in the future.

Background: Dihydropteridone derivatives represent a novel class of PLK1 inhibitors, exhibiting promising anticancer activity and potential as chemotherapeutic drugs for glioblastoma. Objective: The aim of this study is to develop 2D and 3D-QSAR models to validate the anticancer activity of dihydropteridone derivatives and identify optimal structural characteristics for the design of new therapeutic agents. Methods: The Heuristic method (HM) was employed to construct a 2D-linear QSAR model, while the gene expression programming (GEP) algorithm was utilized to develop a 2D-nonlinear QSAR model. Additionally, the CoMSIA approach was introduced to investigate the impact of drug structure on activity. A total of 200 novel anti-glioma dihydropteridone compounds were designed, and their activity levels were predicted using chemical descriptors and molecular field maps. The compounds with the highest activity were subjected to molecular docking to confirm their binding affinity. Results: Within the analytical purview, the coefficient of determination (R2) for the HM linear model is elucidated at 0.6682, accompanied by an R2 cv of 0.5669 and a residual sum of squares (S2) of 0.0199. The GEP nonlinear model delineates coefficients of determination for the training and validation sets at 0.79 and 0.76, respectively. Empirical modeling outcomes underscore the preeminence of the 3D-QSAR model, succeeded by the GEP nonlinear model, whilst the HM linear model manifested suboptimal efficacy. The 3D paradigm evinced an exemplary fit, characterized by formidable Q2 (0.628) and R2 (0.928) values, complemented by an impressive F-value (12.194) and a minimized standard error of estimate (SEE) at 0.160. The most significant molecular descriptor in the 2D model, which included six descriptors, was identified as "Min exchange energy for a C-N bond" (MECN). By combining the MECN descriptor with the hydrophobic field, suggestions for the creation of novel medications were generated. This led to the identification of compound 21E.153, a novel dihydropteridone derivative, which exhibited outstanding antitumor properties and docking capabilities. Conclusion: The development of 2D and 3D-QSAR models, along with the innovative integration of contour maps and molecular descriptors, offer novel concepts and techniques for the design of glioblastoma chemotherapeutic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Previous studies indicated that Wuda Granule (WDG) has been applied in the treatment of gastrointestinal motility disorder (GMD), but the effect and underlying mechanisms is yet to be elucidated. This study aimed to explore the mechanism and pharmacological effect of WDG for GMD via network analysis, verification of animal experiments and clinical experiments. Methods: The chemical components of WDG were identified from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database (TCMSP, http://lsp.nwu.edu.cn/ index.php), and the Encyclopedia of TraditionalChineseMedicine (ETCM, http://www. tcmip.cn/ETCM/index.php/Home/Index/) according to oral bioavailability (OB) ≥ 20% and drug-likeness (DL) ≥ 0.10. The targets of WDG compounds were retrieved from the Swiss Target Prediction database (http://www.swisstargetprediction.ch/) and targets related to GMD were retrieved from GeneCards database (https://www. genecards.org/). Network analysis were performed to screen the key active compounds of WDG and its hub targets. Then the pharmacological effect of WDG were verified via vivo experiments in rats and clinical experiments. Results: The results showed that 117 effective active compounds of WDG were screened and 494 targets of WDG compounds targeting GMD were selected. These targets were involved in the biological process of inflammatory regulation and the regulation of gastrointestinal motility. The mechanism was mainly involved in the regulation of PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and Rap1 signaling pathway. In addition, molecular docking analysis suggested that eight key active compounds of WDG may be mainly responsible for the effect of WDG on GMD by targeting HARS, AKT, and PIK3CA, respectively. Animal experiments and clinical trials both suggested that WDG could exert therapeutical effect on GMD via inhibiting inflammation and promoting gastrointestinal motility, it could also improve digestive function of patients with laparoscopic colorectal cancer after surgery. Conclusion: This study was the first to demonstrate that WDG improved GMD mainly via inhibiting inflammatory level and promoting gastrointestinal motility, providing new insights for the understanding of WDG for GMD, inspiration for future research and reference for clinical strategy in terms of the treatment of GMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly lethal neurological tumor that presents significant challenge for clinicians due to its heterogeneity and high mortality rate. Despite extensive research, there is currently no effective drug treatment available for GBM. Research evidence has consistently demonstrated that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) promotes tumor progression and is associated with poor prognosis in several types of cancer. In glioma, EGFR abnormal amplification is reported in approximately 40% of GBM patients, with overexpression observed in 60% of cases, and deletion or mutation in 24% to 67% of patients. In our study, Sitravatinib, a potential EGFR inhibitor, was identified through molecular docking screening based on protein structure. The targeting of EGFR and the tumor inhibitory effect of Sitravatinib on glioma were verified through cellular and in vivo experiments, respectively. Our study also revealed that Sitravatinib effectively inhibited GBM invasive and induced DNA damage and cellular senescence. Furthermore, we observed a novel cell death phenotype induced by Sitravatinib, which differed from previously reported programmed death patterns such as apoptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and necrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Screening of novel cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) inhibitors from complex natural products is not an easy task. Objectives: To establish an efficient and feasible strategy for screening COX‐2 inhibitors from triterpenoid saponins (TPSs) in Clematis tangutica. Methods: Taking TPSs in C. tangutica as example, an optimized macroporous resin (MR) method was established for the enrichment of TPSs. High‐performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (HPLC‐QTOFMS) was performed to establish the phytochemical profiling of TPSs. Molecular docking was performed to predict the ligand–target interactions and discover the active substances. Chemometric techniques were performed to visualize the structure–effect relationships. High‐speed countercurrent chromatography and preparative HPLC were performed to prepare the targets. In vitro activity experiment of COX‐2 was performed to verify the virtual screening results. Results: TPSs in C. tangutica were well enriched with the recovery rate of (80.22 ± 2.37)%. Thirty‐four kinds of TPSs of oleanane type were deduced by HPLC‐QTOFMS. Five TPSs of clematangoside C, clematangoside D, clematangoticoside J, hederoside H1, and hederasaponin B showed stronger binding abilities with COX‐2. The structure with more sugar groups at C‐28 may be more conducive to the combination with COX‐2. Targets were prepared with purities all above 98%. The IC50 values of target TPSs were 6.03 ± 0.24, 12.44 ± 0.15, 9.36 ± 0.19, 4.78 ± 0.13, and 2.59 ± 0.11 μmol/L, respectively. Conclusion: The integrated strategy using MR, HPLC‐QTOFMS, molecular docking, chemometrics, target preparation, and in vitro verification was feasible for rapidly screening COX‐2 inhibitors from TPSs in C. tangutica. An integrated strategy was established for screening COX‐2 inhibitors from triterpenoid saponins of Clematis tangutica based on macroporous resin, HPLC‐QTOFMS, molecular docking, chemometrics, targets preparation and in vitro verification. As a result, five COX‐2 inhibitors including clematangoside C, clematangoside D, clematangoticoside J, hederoside H1 and hederasaponin B were screened out and isolated. The strategy could be used for the accurate screening of other active components from natural products with similar structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassica oleracea L. has strong allelopathic effects on weeds. However, the allelochemicals with herbicidal activity in B. oleracea L. are still unknown. In this study, we evaluated the activity of allelochemicals isolated from Brassica oleracea L. based on the germination and growth of model plant Lactuca sativa Linn., grass weed Panicum miliaceum, and broadleaf weed Chenopodium album. Additionally, we employed molecular docking to predict the binding of brassicanate A sulfoxide to herbicide targets. The results of this study showed that eight compounds with herbicidal activity were isolated from B. oleracea L., and the predicted results indicated that brassicanate A sulfoxide was stably bound to dihydroxyacid dehydratase, hydroxymethylpyruvate dioxygenase, acetolactate synthase, PYL family proteins and transport inhibitor response 1. This research provides compound sources and a theoretical foundation for the development of natural herbicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decline in cross-protection provided by the smallpox vaccine increases the risk of infection from other poxviruses. While drug combinations are a promising management, they remain underdeveloped for poxviruses. Prior to the development of the smallpox vaccine, China had long relied on herbal medicine to combat pox and accumulated a wealth of knowledge regarding different herb combinations and symptoms related to pox. The information was documented in the form of prescriptions. The extensive data of prescriptions offer the potential for uncovering commonalities underlying these prescriptions, thereby providing valuable insights into the development of drug combinations against pox. The 2344 prescriptions were collected from the LTM-TCM database and 12 traditional Chinese medicine books. Firstly, the relative frequency of citation was utilized to identify the most used herbs among these prescriptions. TCMSP and LTM-TCM databases were employed to gather information about active compounds and their targets. GeneCards and DisGeNET databases were utilized to determine the associated targets for smallpox, cowpox, chickenpox, and mpox. Subsequently, network pharmacology analysis was conducted to investigate potential pathway information related to the most used herbs. A comparison of active compounds from these herbs resulted in the identification of 29 high-frequency compounds. The functions of these compounds were elucidated through gene overlap analysis, docking, and literature review. Finally, we summarized pox-related symptoms and used fidelity levels to distinguish specific herbs for corresponding symptoms. Based on 2344 traditional pox-related prescriptions, we identified 19 most used herbs and 64 associated bio-functional modules for poxvirus treatment, with the most significant one being immunoregulation primarily involving CD4+ regulation. We also identified 29 leads that possess anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties. These herbs and leads hold the potential for pox treatment. Additionally, docking analysis suggested that these leads could inhibit poxvirus DNA synthesis, RNA capping machinery processes, and mature poxvirus particle formation, as well as immunosuppressors. The clinical features of mpox in 2022 were found to align well with our description of symptoms related to the pox. Through the analysis of 2344 prescriptions for pox treatment, we obtained a comprehensive library of the most used herbs and high-frequency compounds, along with their potential functional spectrum. These libraries served as raw resources for drug combination development, while the identified symptom patterns and specific herbs greatly enhanced our insight into diverse treatments for pox patients. [Display omitted] • 19 herbal medicines and 29 compounds showed high frequency in 2344 prescriptions related to pox. • The most used herbs exhibited similar multi-module cooperation patterns in the treatment of pox. • The 29 molecules showed different potential for pox, such as antivirus, antibacterial, and anti-inflammation. • The extra 19 specific herbal medicines were found for different pox symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Backgrounds Asthma and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are common chronic diseases of the respiratory system in clinical practice. However, the relationship and molecular links remain unclear, and the current treatment’s efficacy is disappointing. Bu-Shen-Yi-Qi (BSYQ) decoction has proven effective in treating various chronic airway inflammatory diseases, including asthma and IPF. But the underlying pharmacological mechanisms are still to be elucidated. Methods This study searched the proteins related to asthma and IPF via TTD, CTD, and DisGeNET databases and then submitted to the STRING to establish the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network. The co-bioinformatics analysis was conducted by Metascape. The active ingredients of BSYQ decoction were screened from TCMSP, ETCM, BATMAN-TCM databases, and HPLC/MS experiment. The corresponding targets were predicted based on TCMSP, ETCM, and BATMAN-TCM databases. The shared targets for asthma and IPF treatment were recognized, and further GO and KEGG analyses were conducted with the DAVID platform. Finally, molecule docking via Autodock Vina was employed to predict the potential binding mode between core potential compounds and targets. Results Finally, 1333 asthma-related targets and 404 IPF-related proteins were retrieved, 120 were overlapped between them, and many of the asthma-related proteins fall into the same statistically significant GO terms with IPF. Moreover, 116 active ingredients of BSYQ decoction were acquired, and 1535 corresponding targets were retrieved. Eighty-three potential compounds and 56 potential targets were recognized for both asthma and IPF treatment. GO and KEGG analysis indicated that the inflammation response, cytokine production, leukocyte differentiation, oxygen level response, etc., were the common pathological processes in asthma and IPF, which were regulated by BSYQ decoction. Molecule docking further predicted the potential binding modes between the core potential compounds and targets. Conclusion The current study successfully clarified the complex molecule links between asthma and IPF and found the potential common targets. Then we demonstrated the efficacy of BSYQ decoction for asthma and IPF treatment from the angle of network pharmacology, which may provide valuable references for further studies and clinical use.

Background: Novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) has developed as a pandemic of global concern. There is an urgent need to develop effective and safe therapies. Platycodon grandiflorum (PG), one of the most famous traditional Chinese herbs, may be satisfied. In this study, we explored the pharmacological mechanism of PG in the treatment of COVID-19. Method: The active compounds and potential targets were acquired from public databases. The protein-protein interaction, the Gene Ontology, and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes were determined through bioinformatics analysis. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics were performed to further verify the findings. Result: A total of 38 bioactive ingredients and 276 gene targets of PG were identified. There were 78 intersected targets of PG and COVID-19. The network analysis revealed that luteolin, Platycogenic acid A, Platycogenic acid C, Polygalacic acid, and acacetin may be candidate agents. The AKT1, VEGFA, TP53, MAPK3, TNF, IL6, CASP3, EGFR, STAT3, and CCND1 were the important potential drug targets. Gene Ontology terms are involved in biological processes, which are mainly concentrated in inorganic substances and apoptosis, etc. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway was involved in several aspects, such as Virus infection and immune regulation-related pathways. Molecular docking results showed that compounds of PG are closely bound to related targets. Molecular dynamics further found that Robin, Flavplatycoside, and dimethyl 3-O-ß-D-glucopyranosylplatycogenate A can maintain good stability and flexibility in the composite system. Conclusion: PG has multicomponent, multitarget, and multichannel characteristics, which can provide an important theoretical basis to treat patients with COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory peptides (ACE–IPs) derived from Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) plasma hydrolysate (MDPH) were investigated. According to the general research protocol for bioactive peptides, the crude ACE–IPs of Muscovy duck plasma were separated and purified by ultrafiltration, gel chromatography and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP–HPLC). Then the components with the highest ACE inhibition potential were selected for identification. Finally, the inhibition mechanism was explored by molecular docking and in silico simulated digestion. A total of 121 peptides was detected, and five were screened for synthesis verification and molecular docking. The peptide VALSSLRP revealed high ACE inhibitory activity (91.67 ± 0.73%) because this peptide bound tightly to the S1′ pocket and formed 3 hydrogen bonds. Meaningfully, this work provides some new information about the generation of ACE–IPs derived from duck blood plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the pharmacological mechanism of prunella vulgaris in treating breast cystic hyperplasia by combining network pharmacology and molecule docking.Methods The information of active ingredients in prunella vulgaris and their corresponding targets were searched by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) database of the United States.GeneCards, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM),PharmGkb and DrugBank databases were used to obtain clinical disease targets related to breast cystic hyperplasia.The intersection of related disease targets corresponding to breast cystic hyperplasia and potential targets of prunella vulgaris was taked and the Wayne diagram was drawn.The Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) database and Cytoscape 3.9.0 software were used for protein interaction network analysis of disease and drug common targets, and R software was used for gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis.The disease-TCM active ingredient-target network diagram was constructed by Cytoscape 3.9.0 software.The Sybyl software was used to test the interaction between active ingredients of prunella vulgaris and core gene targets of breast cystic hyperplasia by molecular docking.Results A total of 11 active ingredients, 186 gene targets of prunella vulgaris, 2,699 gene targets of breast cystic hyperplasia, 141 common targets of drugs and diseases, and 24 core genes were screened.And they mainly involved multiple biological processes such as oxidative stress response, anti-inflammatory, and immune function regulation, and mainly involved several signaling pathways, including cyclic adenosine phosphate signaling pathway, advanced glycation end products-advanced glycation end products receptor signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, phosphoinositol-3 kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathway, interleukin-17 signaling pathway and so on.The active ingredients of prunella vulgaris and related disease targets of breast cystic hyperplasia can be bonded by hydrogen bond and then interact with each other.Conclusion This study reveals that prunella vulgaris may exert its curative effect in breast cystic hyperplasia by combining its main active ingredients with Akt 1,PTGS2,mapk8 and erbB2 target proteins, and participate in cAMP signal pathway, AGE-RAGE signal pathway and TNF signal pathway, and provide a scientific theoretical basis for further pharmacological experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have revealed that green tea polyphenol (GTP) could protect against liver injury due to oxidative stress. However, the mechanism underlying the bioactive actions of GTP in the liver has not been systematically evaluated. This study aimed to investigate the effect of GTP on the activation of the nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (keap1) pathway, using in silico and in vivo methods. Furthermore, the regulation of Nrf2 downstream target antioxidant response element (ARE) was also evaluated. The high-performance liquid chromatography analysis indicated that GTP includes 9 major compounds, and molecule docking analysis demonstrated that most of these polyphenols have a strong binding affinity with the keap1 Kelch domain, where keap1 binds to the Neh2 domain of Nrf2. Remarkably, the predominant compound of GTP, that is, epigallocatechin gallate, displayed the best binding affinity score, which can fully occupy all 3 polar subpockets of the keap1 Kelch domain. The Nrf2, keap1, and Nrf2 downstream target gene expression levels were changed in the livers compared to the control group. It showed that the Nrf2 expression level was significantly upregulated in GTP-induced mice liver across most treatments, while the keap1 expression level remained unchanged. Subsequently, we observed a significant increasing trend in the expression of the downstream ARE, including antioxidative enzymes, liver phase II enzymes, and liver efflux transporters in mice livers. The present study demonstrated that GTP could activate the Nrf2 signaling pathway by interrupting the Nrf2-keap1 protein–protein interaction [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The main objective of this study was to elucidate the effector material basis of Cimicifugae Rhizoma (CR) for the treatment of acute pneumonia (AP) and to explore the potential mechanisms underlying the anti-AP effects of these active components in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation model of lung epithelial cells., Methods: Chemical components were identified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-TOF-MS), and a CR component library was subsequently established based on a combination of databases and available literature. Bioinformatics techniques were used to construct "component-target" and "protein-protein interaction (PPI)" networks, and the potential active components and core targets screened according to degree value, followed by molecular docking and in vitro experiments for verification. Inflammation was induced in normal human lung epithelial cells using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mimic the occurrence of AP., Results: In total, 122 CR components were identified. The therapeutic effects of potential active components against AP were associated with 147 targets involving 165 signaling pathways. Molecular docking experiments revealed the strong affinity of N-cis- feruloyltyramine, ferulic acid, cimifugin, and isoferulic acid for core AP-associated targets. In vitro cellular experiments showed that the above compounds and CR alcoholic extracts inhibited the expression of inflammatory factors in the following order: isoferulic acid > cimifugin > CR alcoholic extract > N-cis-feruloyltyramine > ferulic acid., Conclusion: N-cis- feruloyltyramine, ferulic acid, cimifugin, and isoferulic acid were the effector components of CR with activity against AP. These compounds potentially co-regulate the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 and TLR4/IL-1β-IRAK pathways through the inhibition of cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β, and downregulation of P-STAT3, TLR4, PIK3CA, and NF-κB involved in TLR4/IL-1β-IRAK/NF-κB and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways to exert therapeutic effects on AP., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2024 Zhu et al.)

Objective:Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Harms (ASH) is a traditional herbal medicine widely known for its antifatigue and antistress effects, as well as tonifying qi, invigorating spleen and kidney, and tranquilizing the mind. Recent evidence suggests that ASH has a therapeutic effect on major depressive disorder (MDD), but its mechanism is still unclear. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of ASH on MDD and potential therapeutic mechanisms.Materials and Methods: The chemical compound potential target network was predicted based on network pharmacology. Simultaneously, chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model mice were orally administrated ASH with three dosages (400, 200, and 100 mg/kg) for 6 weeks, and hepatic metabolomics based on gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was carried out to identify differential metabolites and related metabolic pathways. Next, the integrated analysis of metabolomics and network pharmacology was applied to find the key target. Finally, molecular docking technology was employed to define the combination of the key target and the corresponding compounds.Results: A total of 13 metabolites and four related metabolic pathways were found in metabolomics analysis. From the combined analysis of network pharmacology and metabolomics, six targets (DAO, MAOA, MAOB, GAA, HK1, and PYGM) are the overlapping targets and two metabolic pathways (glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism and starch and sucrose metabolism) are the most related pathways. Finally, DAO, MAOA, MAOB, GAA, HK1, and PYGM were verified bounding well to their corresponding compounds including isofraxidin, eleutheroside B1, eleutheroside C, quercetin, kaempferol, and acacetin.Conclusion: Based on these results, it was implied that the potential mechanism of ASH on MDD was related to the regulation of metabolism of several excitatory amino acids and carbohydrates, as well as the expression of DAO, MAOA, MAOB, GAA, HK1, and PYGM.

Brassica oleracea L. has strong allelopathic effects on weeds. However, the allelochemicals with herbicidal activity in B. oleracea L. are still unknown. In this study, we evaluated the activity of allelochemicals isolated from Brassica oleracea L. based on the germination and growth of model plant Lactuca sativa Linn., grass weed Panicum miliaceum, and broadleaf weed Chenopodium album. Additionally, we employed molecular docking to predict the binding of brassicanate A sulfoxide to herbicide targets. The results of this study showed that eight compounds with herbicidal activity were isolated from B. oleracea L., and the predicted results indicated that brassicanate A sulfoxide was stably bound to dihydroxyacid dehydratase, hydroxymethylpyruvate dioxygenase, acetolactate synthase, PYL family proteins and transport inhibitor response 1. This research provides compound sources and a theoretical foundation for the development of natural herbicides.

Backgrounds: Asthma and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are common chronic diseases of the respiratory system in clinical practice. However, the relationship and molecular links remain unclear, and the current treatment's efficacy is disappointing. Bu-Shen-Yi-Qi (BSYQ) decoction has proven effective in treating various chronic airway inflammatory diseases, including asthma and IPF. But the underlying pharmacological mechanisms are still to be elucidated. Methods: This study searched the proteins related to asthma and IPF via TTD, CTD, and DisGeNET databases and then submitted to the STRING to establish the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network. The co-bioinformatics analysis was conducted by Metascape. The active ingredients of BSYQ decoction were screened from TCMSP, ETCM, BATMAN-TCM databases, and HPLC/MS experiment. The corresponding targets were predicted based on TCMSP, ETCM, and BATMAN-TCM databases. The shared targets for asthma and IPF treatment were recognized, and further GO and KEGG analyses were conducted with the DAVID platform. Finally, molecule docking via Autodock Vina was employed to predict the potential binding mode between core potential compounds and targets. Results: Finally, 1333 asthma-related targets and 404 IPF-related proteins were retrieved, 120 were overlapped between them, and many of the asthma-related proteins fall into the same statistically significant GO terms with IPF. Moreover, 116 active ingredients of BSYQ decoction were acquired, and 1535 corresponding targets were retrieved. Eighty-three potential compounds and 56 potential targets were recognized for both asthma and IPF treatment. GO and KEGG analysis indicated that the inflammation response, cytokine production, leukocyte differentiation, oxygen level response, etc., were the common pathological processes in asthma and IPF, which were regulated by BSYQ decoction. Molecule docking further predicted the potential binding modes between the core potential compounds and targets. Conclusion: The current study successfully clarified the complex molecule links between asthma and IPF and found the potential common targets. Then we demonstrated the efficacy of BSYQ decoction for asthma and IPF treatment from the angle of network pharmacology, which may provide valuable references for further studies and clinical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rich of 3,4-seco-lupane triterpenoids (3,4-SLT), including chiisanoside (CSS), divaroside (DVS), sessiloside-A1 (SSA), chiisanogenin (CSG), sessiligenin (SSG), were isolated from the ethanol extract of the leaves of Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus (LES). The present study was performed to explore the cytotoxic and anti-tumor effects of the isolated five ones, as well as potential molecular mechanisms. The results of a CCK-8 assay demonstrated that these 3,4-SLT can inhibit the growth of HepG2 cells, and SSG showed the most significant cytotoxicity. Hoechst 33258 fluorescence staining and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining indicated that 3,4-SLT in LES can induce HepG2 cell apoptosis effectively. The AutoDock Vina program was used to simulate molecular docking of drugs and targets to discuss possible pharmacological mechanisms. Besides, western blot and qRT-PCR results indicated that SSG can inhibit PI3K/AKT signaling pathway through controlling multi-targets. This study suggested that 3,4-SLT might become a new research hotspot for antineoplastic drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Biological studies have elucidated that phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the serine synthesis pathway in humans that is abnormally expressed in numerous cancers. Inhibition of the PHGDH activity is thought to be an attractive approach for novel anti-cancer therapy. The development of structurally diverse novel PHGDH inhibitors with high efficiency and low toxicity is a promising drug discovery strategy., Methods: A ligand-based 3D-QSAR pharmacophore model was developed using the HypoGen algorithm methodology of Discovery Studio. The selected pharmacophore model was further validated by test set validation, cost analysis, and Fischer randomization validation and was then used as a 3D query to screen compound libraries with various chemical scaffolds. The estimated activity, drug-likeness, molecular docking, growing scaffold, and molecular dynamics simulation processes were applied in combination to reduce the number of virtual hits., Results: The potential candidates against PHGDH were screened based on estimated activity, docking scores, predictive absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADME/T) properties, and molecular dynamics simulation., Conclusion: Finally, an all-in-one combination was employed successfully to design and develop three potential anti-cancer candidates., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Xu, Yang, Yang, Gan, Qin and Wei.)

Copyright of Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Sunyatseni / Zhongshan Daxue Xuebao is the property of Sun-Yat-Sen University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this study, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory peptides (ACE–IPs) derived from Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) plasma hydrolysate (MDPH) were investigated. According to the general research protocol for bioactive peptides, the crude ACE–IPs of Muscovy duck plasma were separated and purified by ultrafiltration, gel chromatography and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP–HPLC). Then the components with the highest ACE inhibition potential were selected for identification. Finally, the inhibition mechanism was explored by molecular docking and in silico simulated digestion. A total of 121 peptides was detected, and five were screened for synthesis verification and molecular docking. The peptide VALSSLRP revealed high ACE inhibitory activity (91.67 ± 0.73%) because this peptide bound tightly to the S1′ pocket and formed 3 hydrogen bonds. Meaningfully, this work provides some new information about the generation of ACE–IPs derived from duck blood plasma.

Immunity is a versatile defensive response that is involved in protecting against disease by identifying and destroying self and non-self harmful substances. As a state of temporary or permanent immune dysfunction, immunosuppression can make an organism more susceptible to infection, organ injury, and cancer due to damage to the immune system. It has taken a long time to develop new immunomodulatory agents to prevent and treat immunosuppressive diseases. In recent years, Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) agonists have been reported to have profound effects on the immune system, and they are regarded as potent immunomodulatory candidates. TP5 and LL-37, the potent immunomodulatory agents, have been reported to produce a robust innate immune response by binding to TLR2. However, their development has been weakened by several concerns, such as potential cytotoxicity, weak physiological stability and poor immunomodulatory activity. To overcome these challenges, hybridization has been proposed. Therefore, six hybrid peptides (LTPa, LTPb, LTPc, TPLa, TPLb, and TPLc) were designed by combining the full-length TP5 with a characteristic fragment of LL-37 that included LL-37 (13–36), LL-37 (17–29), and LL-37 (13–31). LTPa, the most potent TLR2 agonist, was simply and effectively screened by molecular docking and in vitro experiments. Furthermore, the immunomodulatory effects of LTPa were confirmed by a CTX-immunosuppressed murine model, which demonstrated that LTPa successfully inhibit immunosuppression, increased immune organ indices, enhanced DC maturation, regulated T lymphocyte subsets, and increased cytokine and Ig contents. Our study also revealed that the immunomodulatory effects of LTPa are associated with binding to TLR2, forming TLR2 clusters, and activating the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Copyright of Practical Pharmacy & Clinical Remedies is the property of Editorial Department of Practical Pharmacy & Clinical Remedies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study investigated the effect of anaerobic treatment on the non-volatile components and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity in purple-colored leaf tea. Results showed that after 8 h of anaerobic treatment, the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content significantly increased from 0.02 mg/g to 1.72 mg/g ( p  < 0.05), while lactic acid content gradually rose from non-detectable levels to 3.56 mg/g. Notably, certain flavonols like quercetin and myricetin exhibited significant increments, whereas the total anthocyanins (1.01 mg/g) and epigallocatechin-3-(3''- O -methyl) gallate (13.47 mg/g) contents remained almost unchanged. Furthermore, the ACE inhibition rate of purple-colored leaf tea increased significantly from 42.16% to 49.20% ( p  < 0.05) at a concentration of 2 mg/mL. Moreover, galloylated catechins showed stronger ACE inhibitory activity than non-galloylated catechins in both in vitro ACE inhibitory activity and molecular docking analysis. These findings might contribute to the development of special purple-colored leaf tea products with potential therapy for hypertension., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Introduction: Screening of novel pancreatic lipase inhibitors from complex natural products is a meaningful task., Objectives: Through accurately screening and separating pancreatic lipase inhibitors from Clematis tangutica (C. tangutica), to discover new leading compounds for slimming and accelerate the development and utilization of Tibetan medicine resources., Methods: An integrated strategy that combines affinity ultrafiltration and high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (AU-HPLC-QTOFMS), targeted separation, in vitro validation, and molecular docking was developed to screen pancreatic lipase inhibitors from C. tangutica. The AU-HPLC-QTOFMS technique was performed to fish for the potential active substances. Macroporous resin, preparative liquid chromatography, and high-speed countercurrent chromatography were implemented for the accurate and targeted separation of active compounds. The inhibitory activities of target compounds to pancreatic lipase were detected by the inhibition experiments in vitro. The binding affinities and binding sites were analyzed using molecular docking., Results: A total of eleven kinds of pancreatic lipase inhibitory substances were screened from C. tangutica. Seven triterpenoid saponins were screened for the first time as lipase inhibitors and successfully prepared with purities higher than 97%. Tanguticoside B, clematangoticoside J, hederoside H 1 , and rutin showed stronger inhibitory effects with IC 50 values of 1.539 ± 0.048, 1.661 ± 0.092, 1.793 ± 0.069, and 1.792 ± 0.094 mmol/l. Moreover, they have the lowest ΔG values of -10.84, -9.97, -10.87, and -9.39 kcal/mol to pancreatic lipase., Conclusion: The integrated strategy using AU-HPLC-QTOFMS, targeted separation, in vitro validation, and molecular docking was feasible for rapidly screening and directionally isolating pancreatic lipase inhibitors from C. tangutica., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

HIV-1 can rapidly infect the brain upon initial infection, establishing latent reservoirs that induce neuronal damage and/or death, resulting in HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder. Though anti-HIV-1 antiretrovirals (ARVs) suppress viral load, the blood-brain barrier limits drug access to the brain, largely because of highly expressed efflux proteins like P-glycoprotein (P-gp). While no FDA-approved P-gp inhibitor currently exists, HIV-1 protease inhibitors show promise as partial P-gp inhibitors, potentially enhancing drug delivery to the brain. Herein, we employed docking and molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate key differences in P-gp's interactions with several antiretrovirals, including protease inhibitors, with known inhibitory or substrate-like behaviors towards P-gp. Our results led us to hypothesize new mechanistic details of small-molecule efflux by and inhibition of P-gp, where the "Lower Pocket" in P-gp's transmembrane domain serves as the primary initial site for small-molecule binding. Subsequently, this pocket merges with the more traditionally studied drug binding site-the "Upper Pocket"-thus funneling small-molecule drugs, such as ARVs, towards the Upper Pocket for efflux. Furthermore, our results reinforce the understanding that both binding energetics and changes in protein dynamics are crucial in discerning small molecules as non-substrates, substrates, or inhibitors of P-gp. Our findings indicate that interactions between P-gp and inhibitory ARVs induce bridging of transmembrane domain helices, impeding P-gp conformational changes and contributing to the inhibitory behavior of these ARVs. Overall, insights gained in this study could serve to guide the design of future P-gp-targeting therapeutics for a wide range of pathological conditions and diseases, including HIV-1., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Cathepsin L (CTSL) is a promising therapeutic target for metabolic disorders. Current pharmacological interventions targeting CTSL have demonstrated potential in reducing body weight gain, serum insulin levels, and improving glucose tolerance. However, the clinical application of CTSL inhibitors remains limited. In this study, we used a combination of artificial intelligence and experimental methods to identify new CTSL inhibitors from natural products. Through a robust deep learning model and molecular docking, we screened 150 molecules from natural products for experimental validation. At a concentration of 100 µM, we found that 36 of them exhibited more than 50 % inhibition of CTSL. Notably, 13 molecules displayed over 90 % inhibition and exhibiting concentration-dependent effects. The molecular dynamics simulation on the two most potent inhibitors, Plumbagin and Beta-Lapachone, demonstrated stable interaction at the CTSL active site. Enzyme kinetics studies have shown that these inhibitors exert an uncompetitive inhibitory effect on CTSL. In conclusion, our research identifies Plumbagin and Beta-Lapachone as potential CTSL inhibitors, offering promising candidates for the treatment of metabolic disorders and illustrating the effectiveness of artificial intelligence in drug discovery., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Exserolides are isocoumarin derivatives containing lactone moiety. Recently, some isocoumarins have been demonstrated to ameliorate hyperlipidemia, a major factor for inducing cardiovascular diseases. However, the effects and mechanisms of action of exserolides on hyperlipidemia are not known. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the marine fungus Setosphaeria sp.-derived exserolides (compounds I, J, E, and F) exert lipid-lowering effects via improving reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) in vitro . RAW264.7 macrophages and HepG2 cells were used to establish lipid-laden models, and the levels of intracellular lipids and RCT-related proteins were determined by assay kits and Western blotting, respectively. We observed that exserolides (at a 5 μM concentration) significantly decreased intracellular cholesterol and triglyceride levels in oxidized low-density lipoprotein-laden RAW264.7 cells and markedly improved [ 3 H]-cholesterol efflux. Among the four tested compounds, exserolide J increased the protein levels of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), and liver X receptor α (LXRα). Furthermore, treatment with exserolides significantly decreased oleic acid-laden lipid accumulation in HepG2 hepatocytes. Mechanistically, exserolides enhance PPARα protein levels; furthermore, compound J increases cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase A1 and LXRα protein levels. Molecular docking revealed that exserolides, particularly compound J, can interact with PPARα and LXRα proteins. These data suggest that the terminal carboxyl group of compound J plays a key role in lowering lipid levels by stimulating LXRα and PPARα proteins. In conclusion, compound J exhibits powerful lipid-lowering effects in vitro . However, its hypolipidemic effects in vivo should be investigated in the future., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interestsWen-gang Song reports financial support was provided by 10.13039/501100001809National Natural Science Foundation of China. Shou-dong Guo reports financial support was provided by 10.13039/501100001809National Natural Science Foundation of China. Not applicable. reports a relationship with Not applicable. that includes:. Not applicable. has patent Not applicable. pending to Not applicable. Not applicable. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

• Four new 4-alkyl-dihydroxyfuran coumarins were isolated from Mesua ferrea. • The absolute configuration of the compounds was confirmed by CD and ECD. • Its cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231, MCF-7 and HepG2 cancer cell lines was evaluated. • Mesuaferol D showed the most binding potential against mTOR by prediction of potential targets and molecule docking. Four new 4-alkyl-dihydroxyfuran coumarins, Mesuaferols D–F and iso -Mesuaferol F (1 – 4) were isolated from the flowering buds of Mesua ferrea. The chemical structures of these compounds were confirmed by the extensive analyses of NMR, UV, IR and HR-ESI-MS methods, the absolute configurations were established on the basis of the Mosher's method, electron circular dichroism (ECD) measurement and theoretical calculation methods. The inhibitory activities of the isolates were evaluated on MDA-MB-231, MCF-7 and HepG2 cancer cell lines. All compound s exhibited potent activity against MCF-7 with IC 50 as 26.68 μM, 37.75 μM, 20.53 μM and 33.43 μM respectively, while almost all compound s showed moderate cytotoxic activities against MDA-MB-231 and HepG2 cell lines. The results of prediction potential targets and molecule docking revealed that Mesuaferol D showed the most binding potential against mTOR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Benzamide derivatives substituted with 2-amino-4-tetrahydroindazole were designed. • The anti-tumor activity and receptor interactions of the compounds were determined. • JD-10, 13, and 14 showed good-to-excellent anti-tumor activity in various cells. • HSP90 binding target compounds was due to hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking, and hydrophobic interactions. • JD-10, 13, and 14 are potential HSP90 (Heat shock protein 90) inhibitors with anti-tumor effects. A new series of 2-cycloalkylamino-4–3,6,6-trimethyl-4-oxo-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1 H -indazol-1-yl benzamide analogs was synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antineoplastic activity. These compounds are analogs of 2-(4-hydroxy-cyclohexylamino)-4-(3,6,6-trimethyl-4-oxo-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1 H -indazol-1-yl) benzamide (AT533), which has been previously identified as a potent inhibitor of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90). These newly synthesized analogs showed moderate-to-excellent anti-cancer activity against Eca109, A549, and MDA-MB-231 human carcinoma cells. In particular, JD-10, JD-13 , and JD-14 demonstrated more potent antineoplastic effects than AT533 in tumor cells. Molecular docking studies indicated that these novel derivatives bind to the ATP-binding pocket of HSP90. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed at improving the water solubility of Ginsenoside (G)-Re by forming an inclusion complex. The solubility parameters of G-Re in alpha (α), beta (β), and gamma (γ) cyclodextrin (CD) were investigated. The phase solubility profiles were all classified as AL-type that indicated the 1:1 stoichiometric relationship with the stability constants Ks which were 22 M−1 (α-CD), 612 M−1 (β-CD), and 14,410 M−1 (γ-CD), respectively. Molecular docking studies confirmed the results of phase solubility with the binding energy of −4.7 (α-CD), −5.10 (β-CD), and −6.70 (γ-CD) kcal/mol, respectively. The inclusion complex (IC) of G-Re was prepared with γ-CD via the water-stirring method followed by freeze-drying. The successful preparation of IC was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In-vivo absorption studies were carried out by LC-MS/MS. Dissolution rate of G-Re was increased 9.27 times after inclusion, and the peak blood concentration was 2.7-fold higher than that of pure G-Re powder. The relative bioavailability calculated from the ratio of Area under the curve AUC0–∞ of the inclusion to pure G-Re powder was 171%. This study offers the first report that describes G-Re’s inclusion into γ-CD, and explored the inclusion complex’s mechanism at the molecular level. The results indicated that the solubility could be significantly improved as well as the bioavailability, implying γ-CD was a very suitable inclusion host for complex preparation of G-Re.

Glaucoma is a leading cause of permanent vision loss and current drugs do not halt disease progression. Thus, new therapies targeting different drug targets with novel mechanisms of action are urgently needed. Previously, we identified CACNA2D1 as a novel modulator of intraocular pressure (IOP) and demonstrated that a topically applied CACNA2D1 antagonist—pregabalin (PRG)—lowered IOP in a dose-dependent manner. To further validate this novel IOP modulator as a drug target for IOP-lowering pharmaceutics, a homology model of CACNA2D1 was built and docked against the NCI library, which is one of the world’s largest and most diverse compound libraries of natural products. Acivicin and zoledronic acid were identified using this method and together with PRG were tested for their plausible IOP-lowering effect on Dutch belted rabbits. Although they have inferior potency to PRG, both of the other compounds lower IOP, which in turn validates CACNA2D1 as a valuable drug target in treating glaucoma.

Three undescribed indole alkaloids, fusarindoles F and G ( 1 and 2 ), and chlamydosporin B ( 3 ), together with five known compounds ( 4 - 8 ) were isolated from Robillarda sessilis . Their structures were elucidated based on NMR, UV, HRESIMS, and ECD calculation. Fusarindole F ( 1 ) own unusual asymmetric bis-indole structure. Compounds 5 , 6 , 7 exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with a MIC value of 12.5 μg/mL. According to molecular docking experiment, the target proteins of compound 7 against methicillin-resistant S. aureus may be ELANE, MAOB and STAT3.

The PI3Kδ plays a pivotal role in regulating immune cell function and has recently emerged as a promising therapeutic target in treating various diseases, which draw more and more attention to discover potent PI3Kδ inhibitors in recent years. Starting from structure‐based drug design, a series of derivatives were designed and synthesized as new chemotypes of PI3Kδ inhibitors. The potential compounds were structurally optimized by interaction showed in docking study. In cell‐free kinase activity assays, Homogeneous Time‐Resolved Fluorescence Assay (HTRF) method was performed for evaluating the inhibitory activities against PI3Kδ. Interestingly, the representative compound 4 exhibited potent PI3Kδ activity (IC50=72 nM), which is comparable to that of positive compound TGR1202. Furthermore, compound 4 showed 15‐fold water solubility than TGR1202. In addition, the tests of compound 4 on anti‐cancer activity against jeko‐1 cancer cell line and cytotoxicity against peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) suggested high inhibition activity and low toxicity respectively. A series of experiments indicated that compound 4 possessed novel chemical structure and high‐efficiency PI3Kδ inhibition activity, deserving further structural optimization to develop highly potent PI3Kδ inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work designed and synthesized a series of dithioacetal derivatives containing dioxyether, as well as evaluated their antiviral activities against tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). Bioassays demonstrated that the target compounds showed excellent anti-TMV activities in vivo and in vitro. Compound 24c has excellent anti-TMV activities, and its curative, protective and inactivating activities for TMV were 50.9%, 58.9% and 81.8%, respectively, which are obviously superior to those of ribavirin (50.2%, 41.3% and 69.5%, respectively). Moreover, the EC 50 of the inactivating activities of the anti-TMV of compound 24c is 67.9 mg/L, which is superior to that of ribavirin (149.5 mg/L). Transmission electron microscopy showed that compound 24c caused great damage to the morphology of TMV particles, causing fracture and bending. Molecule docking model revealed that this compound formed five conventional hydrogen bonds with the active sites of amino acids GLN57, ASN73, TYR139, and SER138. Furthermore, the test results of Fluorescence titration and microscale thermophoresis showed that compound 24c has a strong binding force with TMV coat protein (TMV CP), with an association constant (K a) of 1.04 × 105 L/mol and dissociation constant (K d) of 1.6 ± 0.6 μM. These results indicate that the dithioacetal derivatives containing dioxyether are worthy of further research and development as novel antiviral agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enzyme FabH catalyzes the initial step of fatty acid biosynthesis that is essential for bacterial survival. Therefore, FabH has been identified as an attractive target for the development of new antibacterial agents. We present here the discovery of a promising new series of Pyrazol-Benzimidazole amides with low toxicity and potent FabH inhibitory. Twenty-seven novel compounds have been synthesized, and all the compounds were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and MS. Afterwards they were evaluated for in-vitro antibacterial activities against E. coli , P. aeruginosa , B. subtilis and S. aureus , along with E. coli FabH inhibition and cytotoxicity test. Some compounds proved to be of low toxicity and potent, especially compound 31 exhibited the most potential to be a new drug with MIC of 0.49–0.98 μg/mL against the tested bacterial strains and IC 50 of 1.22 μ M against E. coli FabH. Eight analogues 16 , 28 , 30 , 31 , 33 , 34 , 35 and 36 with low range MIC against wild type Xanthomonas Campestris exhibited no inhibition against FabH-deficient mutant strain, which firmly proved the class of compounds arrived at antibacterial activity via interacting with FabH. In silico ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity) evaluation also pointed out that these compounds are potential for druggability. Further, effective overall docking scores of all the compounds have been recorded, and docking simulation of compound 31 into E. coli FabH binding pocket has been conducted, where solid binding interactions has been identified. Image 1 • 27 novel Pyrazol-Benzimidazole amide derivatives have been synthesized and evaluated as potential FabH inhibitors. • Cytotoxicity, hemolytic activities and in silico ADMET were also appraised as well as molecular docking. • Compound 31 showed the most potent inhibitory activity against four tested bacterial and FabH. • Crystal structure of compound 17 was determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A novel metal-based compound of zinc complexing with fleroxacin (flrx) was prepared in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) monohydrate and characterized by various techniques. The crystal structure of the complex ([Zn(flrx)(phen)(H 2 O)](NO 3)·2H 2 O) was successfully disclosed through single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and Zn(II) connected with pyridone oxygen and the carboxylic oxygen atom of flrx by coordination bonds. The complex showed a square pyramid, and its structure was stabilized by intermolecular hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking. The interaction between the complex and calf thymus DNA (ctDNA) was studied. Results indicated that [Zn(flrx)(phen)(H 2 O)](NO 3)·2H 2 O bound to ctDNA through a static mechanism, and the hydrophobic force was the main driving force in the binding process. Circular dichroism spectra, iodide quenching studies, and DNA melting temperature experiments indicated that the complex bound to ctDNA in the groove. Molecular docking further verified the groove binding mode and provided a visualized view for the interactions between the complex and ctDNA. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • A new Zn-based complex with fleroxacin and 1,10-phenanthroline was synthesized. • The single crystal of the zinc complex was obtained and characterized adequately. • Interaction between the complex and ctDNA was investigated by tests and simulation. • The complex bound to DNA in groove mode so as to have very slight damage to DNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (EC 1.13.11.27, HPPD) is a potent new bleaching herbicide target. Therefore, in silico structure-based virtual screening was performed in order to speed up the identification of promising HPPD inhibitors. In this study, an integrated virtual screening protocol by combining 3D-pharmacophore model, molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was established to find novel HPPD inhibitors from four commercial databases. 3D-pharmacophore Hypo1 model was applied to efficiently narrow potential hits. The hit compounds were subsequently submitted to molecular docking studies, showing four compounds as potent inhibitor with the mechanism of the Fe(II) coordination and interaction with Phe360, Phe403, and Phe398. MD result demonstrated that nonpolar term of compound 3881 made great contributions to binding affinities. It showed an IC50 being 2.49 μM against AtHPPD in vitro. The results provided useful information for developing novel HPPD inhibitors, leading to further understanding of the interaction mechanism of HPPD inhibitors.

Introduction: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic progressive disorder and is diagnosed as post-COVID fibrosis. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has no effective treatment because of the low therapeutic effects and side effects of currently available drugs., Aim: The aim is to screen new inhibitors against idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis from traditional Chinese medicines., Methods: Few-shot-based machine learning and molecule docking were used to predict the potential activities of candidates and calculate the ligand-receptor interactions. In vitro A549 cell model was taken to verify the effects of the selected leads on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis., Results: A logistic regression classifier model with an accuracy of 0.82 was built and, combined with molecule docking, used to predict the activities of candidates. 6 leads were finally screened out and 5 of them were in vitro experimentally verified as effective inhibitors against idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis., Conclusion: Herbacetin, morusin, swertiamarin, vicenin-2, and vitexin were active inhibitors against idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Swertiamarin exhibited the highest anti-idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis effect and should be further in vivo investigated for its activity., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

BTK inhibitors have been proved as an effective target for B-cell malignancies. Ibrutinib is the most advanced irreversible BTK inhibitor for treating mantle cell lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukaemia but with existing drug resistance and adverse effects. To design novel effective and safety reversible BTK inhibitors, 115 newly cinnoline analogues were selected to perform molecular docking and 3D-QSAR study because of the main scaffold similarity to Ibrutinib. Both established CoMFA and CoMSIA models obtained high predictive and satisfactory value. CoMFA/CoMSIA contour maps demonstrated that bulky substitutions are preferred at R1 and R3 positions, and introducing hydrophilic and negative electrostatic substitutions at R1 positions is important for improving BTK inhibitory activities. These results will be useful to provide clues for rationally designing novel and high potency BTK inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amide herbicides, which are used extensively worldwide, are often chiral. Enantiomeric selectivity comes from the different effects of the enantiomers on target and non-target organisms. In this study, the enantiomers of three amide herbicides were purified by the semi-preparative column and were used to investigate the enantioselective effects on target Echinochloa crusgalli ( lowland rice weeds ), and non-target Microcystis aeruginosa , and the yeast transformed with the human TR β plasmid organisms. The results showed that ( i ) the R -enantiomers of the three amide herbicides exhibited the strongest activity toward weed inhibition and the lowest toxicity toward non-target organisms; ( ii ) napropamide was better suited for controlling root growth, while acetochlor and propisochlor were better for leaves control; ( iii ) herbicides at certain low concentrations (0.01 mg L −1 for acetochlor and propisochlor) could be utilized to promote plant growth. These findings encourage the use of R -amide herbicides instead of their racemates to increase the efficiency of weed control and reduce the risk to non-target organisms. On the other hand, the adverse effects are caused mostly by S -enantiomer, using R -enantiomer-enriched products may offer great environmental/ecological benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]