Thioterpenoids as Potential Antithrombotic Drugs: Molecular Docking, Antiaggregant, Anticoagulant and Antioxidant Activities.

Natural monoterpenes and their derivatives are widely considered as effective ingredients for the design and production of new biologically active compounds with high antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-protozoa properties. In this study, we synthesized two series of thiotherpenoids "sulfide-sulfoxide-sulfone", with different bicyclic monoterpene skeleton (bornane and pinane) structures. The effect of the obtained compounds on platelet aggregation was investigated by using the molecular docking technique. The obtained data revealed that all the synthesized compounds may act as potential inhibitors of platelet aggregation. Moreover, the studied sulfides have shown high antioxidant activity as revealed by lipid peroxidation (LPO) process inhibition in a non-cellular substrate containing animal lipids. The sulfides were able to inhibit erythrocyte oxidative hemolysis, to reduce the accumulation of secondary LPO products in cells and to prevent the oxidation of native oxyhemoglobin. Additionally, the corresponding sulfones and sulfoxides exhibited insignificant antioxidant activity. However, the sulfides were found to exhibit significant antiaggregant and anticoagulant effects. These findings suggest as well that the sulfides could serve as a leader compound for future research and possible practical applications.

Unraveling the Mechanism of Platelet Aggregation Suppression by Monoterpenoids.

Platelet aggregation causes various diseases and therefore challenges the development of novel antiaggregatory drugs. In this study, we report the possible mechanism of platelet aggregation suppression by newly synthesized myrtenol-derived monoterpenoids carrying different heteroatoms (sulphur, oxygen, or nitrogen). Despite all tested compounds suppressed the platelet aggregation in vitro, the most significant effect was observed for the S-containing compounds. The molecular docking confirmed the putative interaction of all tested compounds with the platelet's P2Y12 receptor suggesting that the anti-aggregation properties of monoterpenoids are implemented by blocking the P2Y12 function. The calculated binding force depended on heteroatom in monoterpenoids and significantly decreased with the exchanging of the sulphur atom with oxygen or nitrogen. On the other hand, in NMR studies on dodecyl phosphocholine (DPC) as a membrane model, only S-containing compound was found to be bound with DPC micelles surface. Meanwhile, no stable complexes between DPC micelles with either O- or N-containing compounds were observed. The binding of S-containing compound with cellular membrane reinforces the mechanical properties of the latter, thereby preventing its destabilization and subsequent clot formation on the phospholipid surface. Taken together, our data demonstrate that S-containing myrtenol-derived monoterpenoid suppresses the platelet aggregation in vitro via both membrane stabilization and blocking the P2Y12 receptor and, thus, appears as a promising agent for hemostasis control.