Immunosuppressive activity of buxidin and E-buxenone from Buxus hyrcana

Chem Biol Drug Des. 2010 Mar;75(3):310-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1747-0285.2009.00906.x. Epub 2010 Jan 19.

Abstract

Buxidin (1) and E-Buxenone (2), steroidal alkaloids from Buxus hyrcana, are found to possess potent immunosuppressive properties. The activity was tested in vitro on oxidative burst, chemotaxis, T-cell proliferation, and cytokine production. Both compounds showed a significant immunomodulatory activity with clear suppressive effect on oxidative burst and chemotaxis in a dose-dependent manner. They also exhibited suppressive effect on the phytohemagglutinin-stimulated T-cell proliferation. The immunomodulatory activity was further confirmed by the suppression of IL-2 and IL-4 production. Furthermore, molecular docking studies were performed to investigate the binding mode of Buxidin (1) and E-Buxenone (2) with IL-2. Despite the structural differences between Buxidin (1) and E-Buxenone (2), docking results revealed that they adopt a similar binding pattern at the active site of the IL-2. A good agreement between practical and theoretic results indicates that the current docking study could provide an alternate tool for the structural optimization of recently identified ligand as more potent IL-2 inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Buxus / chemistry*
  • Catalytic Domain
  • Computer Simulation
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / chemistry*
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / isolation & purification
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology
  • Interleukin-2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Interleukin-2 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Neutrophils / cytology
  • Neutrophils / immunology
  • Neutrophils / metabolism
  • Steroids / chemistry*
  • Steroids / isolation & purification
  • Steroids / pharmacology

Substances

  • E-buxenone
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Interleukin-2
  • Steroids
  • buxidin
  • Interleukin-4