Compounds isolated from Ageratum houstonianum inhibit the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9): An oncoinformatics study.

BACKGROUND: In osteosarcoma tissue, both MMP-2 and MMP-9 are over expressed compared to their expression in non-affected stromal tissue. Hence, gelatinases are attractive targets for anti-osteosarcoma drugs. OBJECTIVE: To study the inhibitory activity of compounds isolated from Ageratum houstonianum against MMP-2 and MMP-9 by in-silico approach. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed docking study using 'Autodock 4.2' between 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid-bis (2-ethylhexyl) ester; squalene; 3,5-bis (1,1-dimethylethyl) phenol; pentamethyl tetrahydro-5H-chromene; (1, 4-cyclohexylphenyl) ethanone and 6-vinyl-7-methoxy-2,2-dimethylchromene with MMP-2 and MMP-9. RESULTS: Among all six compounds isolated from Ageratum houstonianum, (1, 4-cyclohexylphenyl) ethanone showed the maximum potential as a putative inhibitor of both MMP-2 and MMP-9 enzymes with reference to ΔG (-7.95 and -8.2 kcal/mol, respectively) and Ki (1.48 and 0.98 µM, respectively) values. Total intermolecular energy of docking for (1, 4-cyclohexylphenyl) ethanone-MMP catalytic domain-interaction was found to be -8.55 kcal/mol for MMP-2 and -9.21 kcal/mol for MMP-9. CONCLUSION: This study explores molecular interactions between human MMPs (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and six natural compounds. This study predicts that (1,4-cyclohexylphenyl) ethanone is a more efficient inhibitor of human MMP-2 and MMP-9 enzymes compared to the other natural compounds used in this study with reference to Ki and ΔG values.

Current acetylcholinesterase-inhibitors: a neuroinformatics perspective.

This review presents a concise update on the inhibitors of the neuroenzyme, acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7). AChE is a serine protease, which hydrolyses the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine into acetate and choline thereby terminating neurotransmission. Molecular interactions (mode of binding to the target enzyme), clinical applications and limitations have been summarized for each of the inhibitors discussed. Traditional inhibitors (e.g. physostigmine, tacrine, donepezil, rivastigmine etc.) as well as novel inhibitors like various physostigmine-derivatives have been covered. This is followed by a short glimpse on inhibitors derived from nature (e.g. Huperzine A and B, Galangin). Also, a discussion on 'hybrid of pre-existing drugs' has been incorporated. Furthermore, current status of therapeutic applications of AChEinhibitors has also been summarized.