scholarly journals Zeaxanthin Isolated from Dunaliella salina Microalgae Ameliorates Age Associated Cardiac Dysfunction in Rats through Stimulation of Retinoid Receptors

Marine Drugs ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farouk Kamel El-Baz ◽  
Rehab Ali Hussein ◽  
Dalia Osama Saleh ◽  
Gehad Abdel Raheem Abdel Jaleel

Retinoids are essential during early cardiovascular morphogenesis. However, recent studies showed their important role in cardiac remodeling in rats with hypertension and following myocardial infarction. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of zeaxanthin heneicosylate (ZH); a carotenoid ester isolated from Dunaliella salina microalgae, on cardiac dysfunction ensuing d-galactose injection in rats. Rats injected with d-GAL (200 mg/kg; I.P) for 8 weeks were orally treated with ZH (250 μg/kg) for 28 consecutive days. Results showed that d-GAL injection caused dramatic electrocardiographic changes as well as marked elevation in serum levels of homocysteine, creatinine kinase isoenzyme and lactate dehydrogenase. A reduction in the cardiac contents of glucose transporter-4 and superoxide dismutase along with the elevation of inducible nitric oxide synthetase and interleukin-6 was also noticed. Oral administration of ZH significantly improved the above mentioned cardiac aging manifestations; this was further emphasized through histopathological examinations. The effect of ZH is mediated through the interaction with retinoid receptor alpha (RAR-α) as evidenced through a significant elevation of RAR-α expression in cardiac tissue following the lead of an in silico molecular docking study. In conclusion, zeaxanthin heneicosylate isolated from D. salina ameliorated age-associated cardiac dysfunction in rats through the activation of retinoid receptors.

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manik Ghosh ◽  
Kamal Kant ◽  
Anoop Kumar ◽  
Padma Behera ◽  
Naresh Rangra ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Espiritu

<p>Cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs) are proteinaceous toxins secreted as monomers by some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria that contribute to their pathogenicity. These toxins bind to either cholesterol or human CD59, leading to massive structural changes, toxin oligomerization, formation of very large pores, and ultimately cell death, making these proteins promising targets for inhibition. Myricetin, and its related flavonoids, have been previously identified as a candidate small molecule inhibitor of specific CDCs such as listeriolysin O (LLO) and suilysin (SLY), interfering with their oligomerization. In this work, molecular docking was performed to assess the interaction of myricetin with other CDCs whose crystal structures are already known. Results indicated that although myricetin bound to the hitherto identified cavity in domain 4 (D4), much more efficient and stable binding was obtained in sites along the interfacial regions of domains 1 – 3 (D1 – D3). This was common among the tested CDCs, which was primarily due to much more extensive stabilizing intermolecular interactions, as indicated by post-docking analysis. Specifically, myricetin bound to (1) the interface of the three domains in anthrolysin O (ALO), perfringolysin O (PFO), pneumolysin (PLY), SLY, and vaginolysin (VLY), (2) at/near the D1/D3 interface in LLO and streptolysin O (SLO), and (3) along the D2/D3 interface in intermedilysin (ILY). These findings provide theoretical basis on the possibility of using myricetin and its related compounds as a broad-spectrum inhibitor of CDCs to potentially address the diseases associated with these pathogens.</p>


Author(s):  
Acharya Balkrishna ◽  
Rashmi Mittal ◽  
Vedpriya Arya

Background:: COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 has been declared as global pandemic by WHO. Comprehensive analysis of this unprecedented outbreak may help to fight against the disease and may play a pivotal role in decreasing the mortality rate linked with it. Papain like protease (PLpro), a multifunctional polyprotein facilitates the replication of SARS-CoV-2 and evades it from the host immunological response by antagonizing cytokines, interferons and may be considered as potential drug target to combat the current pandemic. Methods:: Natural moieties obtained from medicinal plants were analysed for their potency to target PLpro of SARS-CoV-2 by molecular docking study and were compared with synthetic analogs named as remdesivir, chloroquine and favipiravir. The stability of complexes of top hits was analysed by MD Simulation and interaction energy was calculated. Furthermore, average RMSD values were computed and deepsite ligand binding pockets were predicted using Play Molecule. Drug like abilities of these moieties were determined using ADMET and bond distance between the ligand and active site was assessed to predict the strength of interaction. Results:: Nimbocinol (-7.6 Kcal/mol) and sage (-7.3 Kcal/mol) exhibited maximum BA against PLpro SARS-CoV-2 as evident from molecular docking study which was found to be even better than remdesivir (-6.1 Kcal/mol), chloroquine (-5.3 Kcal/mol) and favipiravir (-5.7 Kcal/mol). Both nimbocinol-PLpro and sage-PLpro SARS-CoV-2 complex exhibited stable conformation during MD Simulation of 101ns at 310 K and potential, kinetic and electrostatic interaction energies were computed which was observed to be concordant with results of molecular docking study. RMSD average values were found to be 0.496 ± 0.015 Å and 0.598 ± 0.023 Å for nimbocinol and sage respectively thus revealing that both the deviation and fluctuations during MD Simulation were observed to be least. Deepsite prediction disclosed that both compounds occupied cryptic pockets in receptor and non-bond distance analysis revealed the formation of hydrogen bonds during ligand-receptor interaction. ADMET exploration further validated the drug like properties of these compounds. Conclusion:: Present study revealed that active constituents of Azadirachta indica and Salvia officinalis can be potentially used to target SARS-CoV-2 by hindering its replication process.


Author(s):  
Katharigatta N. Venugopala ◽  
Christophe Tratrat ◽  
Melendhran Pillay ◽  
Pran Kishore Deb ◽  
Deepak Chopra ◽  
...  

Background: Tuberculosis remains one of the most deadly infectious diseases worldwide due to the emergence of multi-drug resistance (MDR) and extensively drug resistance (XDR) strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Materials and Methods: Herein, the screening of a total of eight symmetrical 1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4-DHP) derivatives (4a-4h) was carried out for whole-cell anti-TB activity against the susceptible H37Rv and MDR strains of MTB. Results and Discussion: Most of the compounds exhibited moderate to excellent activity against the susceptible H37Rv. Moreover, the most promising compound 4f (against H37Rv) having para-trifluoromethyl phenyl group at 4-position and bis para-methoxy benzyl ester group at 3- and 5-positions of 1,4-dihydropyridine pharmacophore, exhibited no toxicity, but demonstrated weak activity against MTB strains resistant to isoniazid and rifampicin. In light of the inhibitory profile of the title compounds, enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (InhA) appeared to be the appropriate molecular target. Docking study of these derivatives against InhA receptor revealed favorable binding interactions. Further, in silico predicted ADME properties of these compounds 4a-4h were found to be in the acceptable ranges including satisfactory Lipinski’s rule of five, thereby indicating their potential as drug-like molecules. Conclusion: In particular, the 1,4-DHP derivative 4f can be considered as an attractive lead molecule for further exploration and development of more potent anti-TB agents as InhA inhibitors.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 512-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nidhi Rani ◽  
Randhir Singh

Background: A series of novel substituted 2-mercaptoimidazoles was synthesised efficiently and in high yields using one-pot synthesis from m-hydroxyacetophenones. Methods: The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were established, their molecular activity was investigated against some bacteria and fungi were further validated using molecular docking study. Results: Reaction of o-hydroxyphenacylbromide (2) with substituted aniline and KSCN, in the presence of catalyst p-toluene sulfonic acid afforded 4(a-r) in good yield. The structure of compounds (4a-r) was confirmed by IR, NMR and MS. Conclusion: The compounds exhibited excellent antimicrobial potency against the tested microorganism.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 655-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laxmi Banjare ◽  
Sant Kumar Verma ◽  
Akhlesh Kumar Jain ◽  
Suresh Thareja

Background:Aromatase inhibitors emerged as a pivotal moiety to selectively block estrogen production, prevention and treatment of tumour growth in breast cancer. De novo drug design is an alternative approach to blind virtual screening for successful designing of the novel molecule against various therapeutic targets.Objective:In the present study, we have explored the de novo approach to design novel aromatase inhibitors.Method:The e-LEA3D, a computational-aided drug design web server was used to design novel drug-like candidates against the target aromatase. For drug-likeness ADME parameters (molecular weight, H-bond acceptors, H-bond donors, LogP and number of rotatable bonds) of designed molecules were calculated in TSAR software package, geometry optimization and energy minimization was accomplished using Chem Office. Further, molecular docking study was performed in Molegro Virtual Docker (MVD).Results:Among 17 generated molecules using the de novo pathway, 13 molecules passed the Lipinski filter pertaining to their bioavailability characteristics. De novo designed molecules with drug-likeness were further docked into the mapped active site of aromatase to scale up their affinity and binding fitness with the target. Among de novo fabricated drug like candidates (1-13), two molecules (5, 6) exhibited higher affinity with aromatase in terms of MolDock score (-150.650, -172.680 Kcal/mol, respectively) while molecule 8 showed lowest target affinity (-85.588 Kcal/mol).Conclusion:The binding patterns of lead molecules (5, 6) could be used as a pharmacophore for medicinal chemists to explore these molecules for their aromatase inhibitory potential.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 659-675
Author(s):  
Mohamed F. Zayed ◽  
Sabrin R.M. Ibrahim ◽  
EL-Sayed E. Habib ◽  
Memy H. Hassan ◽  
Sahar Ahmed ◽  
...  

Background: Quinazolines and quinazolinones derivatives are well known for their important range of therapeutic activities. Objective: The study aims to carry out the synthesis of some derivatives of substituted fluoroquinazolinones based on structure-based design and evaluation of their antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-biofilm activities. Methods: Compounds were chemically synthesized by conventional methods. Structures were established on the basis of spectral and elemental analyses. The antimicrobial potential was tested against various microorganisms using the agar disc-diffusion method. MIC and MBC as well as anti-biofilm activity for the highly active compounds were assessed. Moreover, the computational studies were performed using Auto dock free software package (version 4.0) to explain the predicted mode of binding. Results: All derivatives (5-8), (10a-g), and (A-H) were biologically tested and showed significant antimicrobial activity comparable to the reference compounds. Compounds 10b, 10c, and 10d had a good MIC and MBC against Gram-positive bacteria, whereas 10b and 10d showed significant MIC and MBC against Gram-negative bacteria. However, compounds E and F exhibited good MIC and MBC against fungi. Compound 10c and 8 exhibited significant anti-biofilm activity towards S. aureus and M. luteus. Molecular docking study revealed a strong binding of these derivatives with their receptor-site and detected their predicted mode of binding. Conclusion: The synthesized derivatives showed promising antibacterial, antifungal, and antibiofilm activities. Modeling study explained their binding mode and showed strong binding affinity with their receptor-site. The highly active compounds 5 and 10c could be subjected to future optimization and investigation to be effective antimicrobial agents.


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