Back to Search Start Over

Deciphering the putative bioactive metabolites and the underlying mechanism of Juniperus horizontalis Moench (Creeping juniper) in the treatment of inflammation using network pharmacology and molecular docking.

Authors :
El-Banna AA
Shawky E
Celik I
Ghareeb DA
Abdulmalek SA
Darwish RS
Source :
The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology [J Pharm Pharmacol] 2024 May 03; Vol. 76 (5), pp. 514-533.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the chemical composition of the alcoholic extract from creeping juniper leaves using HPLC-MS/MS and to elucidate its potential anti-inflammatory mechanism through network-based pharmacology analysis to collectively enable a systematic exploration of the chemical composition, mechanism of action, and therapeutic potential of the alcoholic extract from creeping juniper leaves, providing valuable insights into its suitability as an anti-inflammatory agent.<br />Methods: Chemical profiling of the alcoholic extract of creeping juniper leaves using HPLC-MS/MS and revealing its anti-inflammatory mechanism using network-based pharmacology. Further, isolation of some of the identified biomarkers, assessment of their ex-vivo anti-inflammatory activity, and determination of their binding to pro-inflammatory cytokines using molecular docking and dynamics.<br />Key Findings: Thirty-seven compounds were annotated and forwarded to network pharmacology analysis which revealed that the highest interactions were exhibited by quercetin, cosmosiin, myricetin, amentoflavone, hyperoside, isorhamnetin, and quercitrin whereas the most enriched inflammatory targets were IL-2, PGF, VEGFA, and TNFs. PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, arachidonic acid metabolism, and MAPK signaling pathway were found to be the most enriched ones. Six hit compounds were isolated and identified as hyperoside, quercetrin, cupressuflavone, hinokiflavone, amentoflavone, and quercetin. The isolated compounds showed strong anti-inflammatory activity against TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, and molecular docking and dynamics simulation showed that quercetin, quercitrin, and hyperoside had the least binding energy with TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1B, respectively.<br />Conclusions: Creeping juniper may reduce inflammation based on the suggested multi-compounds and multi-pathways, and that provided the basis for creeping juniper use as a potential anti-inflammatory drug.<br /> (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2042-7158
Volume :
76
Issue :
5
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
37992248
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1093/jpp/rgad101