In silico evaluation of the effect of Pleurotus ostreatus phenolic compounds on the enzyme 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX)

Abstract

Introduction: Edible mushrooms, Pleurotus ostreatus in particular, are an important source of bioactive metabolites with immunomodulatory, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Recent studies have shown that extracts and compounds purified from this mushroom, among them the phenol-rich fraction, inhibit nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), cyclooxygenase (COX), and modulate signaling cascades related to redox balance. According to these antecedents, such compounds could also act as inhibitors of the enzyme 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX).

Objective: Evaluate the in silico effect of 13 phenolic compounds present in the species Pleurotus ostreatus on the enzyme 5-LOX using mangiferin as reference compound.

Methods: Docking was carried out with the software AutoDock 4.2 (http://autodock.scripps.edu)  and the 5-LOX structure was obtained with the protein database PDB (www.wwpdb.org). Estimation was performed of free energy (ΔG), dissociation constant (Kd) and ligand efficiency (LE). Drug-likeness parameters were obtained, as well as those related to absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) of the best docking models.

Results: The best ΔG and Kd indicators were homogentisic, chlorogenic and gentisic acids, with ΔG and Kd values of -11.81, -12.28, -11.67 kcal/mol, and 2.19 10-9, 9.99 10-10, 2.79 10-9 M, respectively. Ligand efficiency achieved adequate values for these three phenolic compounds. The docking model for homogentisic acid showed the best results in terms of drug likeness and ADMET tests.

Conclusions: The in silico study revealed the potential of the phenol-rich fraction of P. ostreatus, homogentisic acid in particular, as an enzyme 5-LOX inhibitor, and justifies the development of confirmatory in vitro / in vivo assays to corroborate its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.