AbstractSeven 3-styrylcoumarins were tested for antileishmanial activity against Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis amastigotes. Cytotoxic activity was also evaluated against mammalian U-937 cells. The 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy coumarin derivative 6 was the most active with an IC50 of 40.5 µM, and did not reveal any conspicuous toxicity toward mammalian U-937 cells. Therefore, it may have potential to be considered as candidate for antileishmanial drug development. Further, among several druggable Leishmania targets, molecular docking studies revealed that compound 6 had docking preference by the N-myristoyltransferase (Lp-NMT) of Leishmania panamensis, showing a higher docking score of − 10.1 kcal mol−1 than positive controls and making this protein as a presumably druggable target for this compound. On the other hand, molecular dynamics simulations affirm the docking hypothesis, showing a conformational stability of the 6/Lp-NMT complex throughout 100 ns simulation. Moreover, the molecular mechanics/Poisson–Boltzmann surface area method also support the docking findings, revealing a total free energy of binding of − 47.26 ± 0.08 kcal mol−1, and identifying through energy decomposition analysis that those key aminoacids are contributing strongly to ligand binding. Finally, an optimal pharmacokinetic profile was also estimated for 6. Altogether, coumarin 6 could be addressed as starting point for further pharmacological studies concerning the therapeutic leishmaniasis intervention.
Graphical abstract
摘要 对七种 3-styrylcoumarins进行了抗利什曼病活性测试。还评估了它们对哺乳动物 U-937 细胞的细胞毒活性。3-甲氧基-4-羟基香豆素衍生物 6 的活性最高,IC50 为 40.5 µM,而且对哺乳动物 U-937 细胞没有明显毒性。因此,它有可能被视为抗利什曼病药物开发的候选物质。此外,在几种可药用的利什曼病靶标中,分子对接研究发现化合物 6 与泛利什曼病的 N-肉豆蔻酰转移酶(Lp-NMT)有对接偏好,显示出比阳性对照高出 - 10.1 kcal mol-1 的对接得分,使该蛋白可能成为该化合物的可药用靶标。另一方面,分子动力学模拟证实了对接假说,在 100 ns 的模拟过程中,6/Lp-NMT 复合物的构象保持稳定。此外,分子力学/泊松-玻尔兹曼比表面积法也支持对接结果,显示结合的总自由能为 - 47.26 ± 0.08 kcal mol-1,并通过能量分解分析确定这些关键氨基酸对配体的结合有很大贡献。最后,还估算出了 6 的最佳药代动力学特征。总之,香豆素 6 可以作为有关利什曼病治疗干预的进一步药理学研究的起点。
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