Assessment of the Anti-Breast Cancer Effects of Urolithin with Molecular Docking Studies in the In Vitro Condition: Introducing a Novel Chemotherapeutic Drug

Mol Biotechnol. 2024 Mar;66(3):554-566. doi: 10.1007/s12033-023-00766-3. Epub 2023 Jun 6.

Abstract

A lot of research has been done on using natural items as diabetes treatment. The molecular docking study was conducted to evaluate the inhibitory activities of urolithin A against α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and aldose reductase. The molecular docking calculations indicated the probable interactions and the characteristics of these contacts at an atomic level. The results of the docking calculations showed the docking score of urolithin A against α-amylase was -5.169 kcal/mol. This value for α-glucosidase and aldose reductase was -3.657 kcal/mol and -7.635 kcal/mol, respectively. In general, the outcomes of the docking calculations revealed that urolithin A can construct several hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic contacts with the assessed enzymes and reduces their activities considerably. The properties of urolithin against common human breast cancer cell lines, i.e., SkBr3, MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, Hs578T, Evsa-T, BT-549, AU565 and 600MPE were evaluated. The IC50 of the urolithin was 400, 443, 392, 418, 397, 530, 566 and 551 against SkBr3, MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, Hs578T, Evsa-T, BT-549, AU565 and 600MPE, respectively. After doing the clinical trial studies, the recent molecule may be used as an anti-breast cancer supplement in humans. IC50 values of urolithin A on α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and aldose reductase enzymes were obtained at 16.14, 1.06 and 98.73 µM, respectively.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Cell viability; MTT assay; Molecular docking; Urolithin.

MeSH terms

  • Aldehyde Reductase*
  • Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • alpha-Amylases / chemistry
  • alpha-Amylases / metabolism
  • alpha-Glucosidases / chemistry

Substances

  • Aldehyde Reductase
  • alpha-Glucosidases
  • alpha-Amylases