STUDY ON MOLECULAR DOCKING AND DRUG-LIKENESS PROPERTIES OF SAPONIN T-17 ISOLATED PREVIOUSLY FROM Tupistra chinensis Baker | Lực | TNU Journal of Science and Technology

STUDY ON MOLECULAR DOCKING AND DRUG-LIKENESS PROPERTIES OF SAPONIN T-17 ISOLATED PREVIOUSLY FROM Tupistra chinensis Baker

About this article

Received: 14/07/25                Revised: 14/08/25                Published: 14/08/25

Authors

1. Bui Van Luc, Cua Ong Middle School, Quang Ninh
2. Tu Quang Tan, TNU - University of Education
3. Nguyen Duc Hung Email to author, TNU - University of Education
4. Chu Hoang Mau, TNU - University of Education

Abstract


Gastric carcinoma constitutes a significant worldwide health challenge, occupying the fifth position in prevalence and the fourth in mortality attributable to neoplasms. Investigations conducted in recent times underscore the steroid saponin T-17 obtained from Tupistra chinensis Baker as prospective natural substitutes, oriented toward apoptosis, a vital mechanism of programmed cellular demise intended for the eradication of compromised cells. Bcl-xl, classified as an anti-apoptotic entity, impedes apoptosis via the obstruction of pro-apoptotic element liberation from mitochondria, establishing it as an essential objective in neoplastic therapies. The current inquiry assessed the molecular pathways of T-17 functioning as an antineoplastic substance against Bcl-xl (3SPF) in human gastric malignancy through computational techniques. Molecular docking procedures indicated that T-17 displays augmented stability and improved accommodation within the 3SPF protein cavity in comparison to ABT-737. Computational ADMET assessments revealed an advantageous pharmacokinetic configuration for T-17, incorporating adequate absorption and reliable metabolic processes, devoid of apprehensions regarding AMES mutagenicity. Such observations situate T-17 as a viable principal molecule for gastric carcinoma management through the restraint of apoptosis facilitated by Bcl-xl, offering a framework for the formulation of entities exhibiting elevated safety and potency attributes directed at apoptotic cascades in oncological interventions.

Keywords


3SPF; Apoptosis; Drug-likeness; Molecular docking; Saponin T-17; Tupistra chinensis Baker

References


[1] F. Bray, M. Laversanne, H. Sung, J. Ferlay, R. L. Siegel, I. Soerjomataram, and A. Jemal, “Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries,” CA. Cancer J. Clin., vol. 74, no. 3, pp. 229–263, May 2024.

[2] V. Mansouri, N. Beheshtizadeh, M. Gharibshahian, L. Sabouri, M. Varzandeh, and N. Rezaei, “Recent advances in regenerative medicine strategies for cancer treatment,” Biomed. Pharmacother., vol. 141, 2021, Art. no. 111875.

[3] G. Leng, B. Duan, J. Liu, S. Li, W. Zhao, S. Wang, G. Hou, and J. Qu, “The advancements and prospective developments in anti-tumor targeted therapy,” Neoplasia, vol. 56, 2024, Art. no. 101024.

[4] M. A. Rahman, S. M. Rakib-Uz-Zaman, S. Chakraborti, S. K. Bhajan, R. D. Gupta, M. Jalouli, M. A. Parvez, M. H. Shaikh, E. Hoque Apu, A. H. Harrath, S. Moon, and B. Kim, “Advancements in utilizing natural compounds for modulating autophagy in liver cancer: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets,” Cells, vol. 13, no. 14, 2024, Art. no. 1186.

[5] T. Koseki, K. Yamato, S. Krajewski, J. C. Reed, Y. Tsujimoto, and T. Nishihara, “Activin A-induced apoptosis is suppressed by BCL-2,” FEBS Lett., vol. 376, no. 3, pp. 247–250, 1995.

[6] M. Li, D. Wang, J. He, L. Chen, and H. Li, “Bcl-XL: A multifunctional anti-apoptotic protein,” Pharmacol. Res., vol. 151, 2020, Art. no. 104547.

[7] A. Ohtsu, S. Arai, T. Sawada, M. Kato, Y. Maeno, Y. Miyazawa, Y. Fujizuka, Y. Sekine, H. Koike, H. Matsui, and K. Suzuki, “Fibroblast growth factor receptor inhibitor erdafitinib promotes Mcl-1 degradation and synergistically induces apoptosis with Bcl-xL/Bcl-2 inhibitor in urothelial cancer cells,” Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., vol. 628, pp. 76–83, 2022.

[8] S. Bouabdallah, A. Al-Maktoum, and A. Amin, “Steroidal saponins: Naturally occurring compounds as inhibitors of the hallmarks of cancer,” Cancers, vol. 15, no. 15, 2023, Art. no. 3900.

[9] D. Lu, L. Huang, and C. Weng, “Unveiling the novel anti-tumor potential of digitonin, a steroidal saponin, in gastric cancer: A network pharmacology and experimental validation study,” Drug Des. Devel. Ther., vol. 19, pp. 2653–2666, 2025.

[10] J. Xu, Z. Wang, Y. Huang, Y. Wang, L. Xiang, and X. He, “A spirostanol saponin isolated from Tupistra chinensis Baker simultaneously induces apoptosis and autophagy by regulating the JNK pathway in human gastric cancer cells,” Steroids, vol. 164, 2020, Art. no. 108737.

[11] N. D. C. Q. Bojórquez and M. R. S. Campos, “Traditional and novel computer-aided drug design (CADD) approaches in the anticancer drug discovery process,” Curr. Cancer Drug Targets, vol. 23, no. 5, pp. 333-345, 2023.

[12] E. Lionta, G. Spyrou, D. K. Vassilatis, and Z. Cournia, “Structure-based virtual screening for drug discovery: principles, applications and recent advances,” Curr. Top. Med. Chem., vol. 14, no. 16, pp. 1923-1938, 2014.

[13] K. Kaavin, D. Naresh, M. R. Yogeshkumar, M. K. Prakash, S. Janarthanan, M. M. Krishnan, and M. Malathi, “In-silico DFT studies and molecular docking evaluation of benzimidazo methoxy quinoline-2-one ligand and its Co, Ni, Cu and Zn complexes as potential inhibitors of Bcl-2, Caspase-3, EGFR, mTOR, and PI3K, cancer-causing proteins,” Chem. Phys. Impact, vol. 8, 2024, Art. no. 100418.

[14] S. Zhang, K. Liu, Y. Liu, X. Hu, and X. Gu, “The role and application of bioinformatics techniques and tools in drug discovery,” Front. Pharmacol., vol. 16, 2025, Art. no. 1547131.

[15] C. V. Hoang, T. Q. Tu, H. D. Nguyen, and M. H. Chu, “In silico studies of saponins from Hoya verticillata var. verticillate with important apoptosis potency,” Lett. Org. Chem., vol. 22, no. 11, pp. 1-9, 2025.

[16] H. Zhou, J. Chen, J. L. Meagher, C.-Y. Yang, A. Aguilar, L. Liu, L. Bai, X. Cong, Q. Cai, X. Fang, J. A. Stuckey, and S. Wang, “Design of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL Inhibitors with subnanomolar binding affinities based upon a new scaffold,” J. Med. Chem., vol. 55, no. 10, pp. 4664–4682, 2012.

[17] L. L. G. Ferreira and A. D. Andricopulo, “ADMET modeling approaches in drug discovery,” Drug Discov. Today, vol. 24, no. 5, pp. 1157–1165, 2019.

[18] D. E. V. Pires, T. L. Blundell, and D. B. Ascher, “pkCSM: Predicting small-molecule pharmacokinetic and toxicity properties using graph-based signatures,” J. Med. Chem., vol. 58, no. 9, pp. 4066–4072, 2015.

[19] R. Patil, S. Das, A. Stanley, L. Yadav, A. Sudhakar, and A. K. Varma, “Optimized hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding at the target-ligand interface leads the pathways of drug-designing,” PLoS One, vol. 5, no. 8, 2010, Art. no. e12029.

[20] G. Deogratias, D. M. Shadrack, J. J. E. Munissi, G. A. Kinunda, F. R. Jacob, R. P. Mtei, R. J. Masalu, I. Mwakyula, L. W. Kiruri, and S. S. Nyandoro, “Hydrophobic π-π stacking interactions and hydrogen bonds drive self-aggregation of luteolin in water,” J. Mol. Graph. Model., vol. 116, 2022, Art. no. 108243.

[21] C. M. Roth, B. L. Neal, and A. M. Lenhoff, “Van der Waals interactions involving proteins,” Biophys. J., vol. 70, no. 2, pp. 977–987, 1996.

[22] M. Y. Alsedfy, A. A. Ebnalwaled, M. Moustafa, and A. H. Said, “Investigating the binding affinity, molecular dynamics, and ADMET properties of curcumin-IONPs as a mucoadhesive bioavailable oral treatment for iron deficiency anemia,” Sci. Rep., vol. 14, no. 1, 2024, Art. no. 22027.

[23] D. Dahlgren and H. Lennernäs, “Intestinal permeability and drug absorption: predictive experimental, computational and in vivo approaches,” Pharmaceutics, vol. 11, no. 8, 2019, Art. no. 411.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.34238/tnu-jst.13226

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.
TNU Journal of Science and Technology
Rooms 408, 409 - Administration Building - Thai Nguyen University
Tan Thinh Ward - Thai Nguyen City
Phone: (+84) 208 3840 288 - E-mail: jst@tnu.edu.vn
Based on Open Journal Systems
©2018 All Rights Reserved