Mushrooms are potential foods against cancer: identified by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation

Advanced insights into mushroom polysaccharides: Extraction methods, structure-activity, prebiotic properties, and health-promoting effects

Mushroom-derived polysaccharides, especially β-glucans, have attracted considerable attention because of their various biological regulatory functions. Advanced extraction technologies, including ultrasonic-assisted, microwave-assisted, enzyme-assisted, ultrasonic-microwave synergistic, subcritical water, and aqueous two-phase extractions, are extensively utilized to optimize the efficient recovery of biologically active compounds from mushrooms, progressively supplanting conventional methods. In addition, mushroom polysaccharides are acknowledged as "important biological response modifiers." Beyond their diverse bioactivities, including anticancer, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, antidiabetic, hypocholesterolemia, anti-lipidemic, and antioxidant effects, increasing interest has been directed towards their prebiotic potential, especially regarding their ability to influence gut microbiota. This review presents a comprehensive summary of the extraction and purification methods, biological properties, structure-function relationships, and mechanisms of mushroom polysaccharides, highlighting the latest advancements in the field from 2019 to 2024. Additionally, this review discusses the key findings and limitations associated with the structure-function correlation. While most studies focus on β-glucans or their extracts, α-glucans and chitin have gained increasing attention. The prebiotic potential is associated with α-glucans and chitin, with chitin recognized for its substantial antimicrobial and wound-healing properties. This review systematically identifies current research gaps and proposes avenues for future investigation into the therapeutic potential of mushroom polysaccharides. However, further research is required to comprehensively understand their full therapeutic potential.

Structure-based drug design-guided identification of estrogen receptor binders

Cancer is one of the life-threatening diseases and the second leading cause of death in the world. The estrogen receptor can be considered as one of the significant drug targets for cancer. A large number of clinically used anticancer drugs were identified from phytochemicals. Multiple literatures suggested that extracts of Datura sp. significantly inhibit estrogen receptors associated with human cancer. In the present study, all reported natural products present in Datura sp. were subjected to molecular docking against estrogen receptors. The top hits were shortlisted based on binding orientation and docking score and subjected to molecular dynamics simulation to explore the conformational stability followed by binding energy calculation. The ligand [(1S,5R)-8-Methyl-8-Azabicyclo [3.2.1] Octan-3-yl] (2R)-3-Hydroxy-2-Phenylpropanoate depicts highly acceptable MD simulations outcomes and drug-likeness profile. Knowledge-based de novo design and similar ligand screening were executed using the structural information. The designed ligand DL-50 exhibited satisfactory binding, drug-likeness profile, and well-accepted ADMET profile followed by easy synthetic accessibility which further requires experimental validation.

Identification of potential edible spices as EGFR and EGFR mutant T790M/L858R inhibitors by structure-based virtual screening and molecular dynamics

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinases are overexpressed in several human cancers and could serve as a promising anti-cancer drug target. With this in view, the main aim of the present study was to identify spices having the potential to inhibit EGFR tyrosine kinase. The structure-based virtual screening of spice database consisting of 1439 compounds with EGFR tyrosine kinase (PDB ID: 3W32) was carried out using Glide. Top scored 18 hits (XP Glide Score ≥ -10.0 kcal/mol) was further docked with three EGFR tyrosine kinases and three EGFR T790M/L858R mutants using AutodockVina, followed by ADME filtration. The best three hits were further refined by Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation and MM-GBSA-based binding energy calculation. The overall docking results of the selected hits with both EGFR and EGFR T790M/L858R were quite satisfactory and showed strong binding compared to the three coligands. Detailed MD analysis of CL_07, AC_11 and AS_49 also showed the stability of the protein-ligand complexes. Moreover, the hits were drug-like, and MM-GBSA binding free energy of CL_07 and AS_49 was established to be far better. AC_11 was found to be similar to the known inhibitor Gefitinib. Most of the potential hits are available in Allium cepa, CL_07 and AS_49 available in Curcuma longa and Allium sativum, respectively. Therefore, these three spices could be used as a potential therapeutic candidate against cancer caused by overexpression of EGFR after validation of the observations of this study in in-vitro experiments. Further extensive work is needed to improve the scaffolds CL_07, AC_11, AC_17, and AS_49 as potential anti-cancer drugs.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

A virtual insight into mushroom secondary metabolites: 3D-QSAR, docking, pharmacophore-based analysis and molecular modeling to analyze their anti-breast cancer potential

Breast cancer is a major issue of investigation in drug discovery due to its rising frequency and global dominance. Plants are significant natural sources for the development of novel medications and therapies. Medicinal mushrooms have many biological response modifiers and are used for the treatment of many physical illnesses. In this research, a database of 89 macro-molecules with anti-breast cancer activity, which were previously isolated from the mushrooms in literature, has been selected for the three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationships (3D-QSAR) studies. The 3D-QSAR model was necessarily used in Pharmacopoeia virtual evaluation of the database to develop novel MCF-7 inhibitors. With the known potential targets of breast cancer, the docking studies were achieved. Using molecular dynamics simulations, the targets' stability with the best-chosen natural product molecule was found. Furthermore, the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity of three compounds, resulting after the docking study, were predicted. The compound C1 (Pseudonocardian A) showed the features of effective compounds because it has bioavailability from different coral species and is toxicity-free for the prevention of many dermatological illnesses. C1 is chemically active and possesses charge transfer inside the monomer, as seen by the band gaps of highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) electrons. The reactivity descriptors ionization potential, electron affinity, chemical potential (μ), hardness (η), softness (S), electronegativity (χ), and electrophilicity index (ω) have been estimated using the energies of frontier molecular orbitals (HOMO-LUMO). Additionally, molecular electrostatic potential maps were created to show that the C1 is reactive.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Anatoluin A and B isolated from medicinal Tricholoma anatolicum are new cytotoxic ergostanoids against the most common cancers

Tricholoma anatolicum is an edible mushroom from the matsutake group growing under Cedar trees. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of Tricholoma anatolicum afforded two new (1 and 2), three known ergosterols (3-6), and four known (6-9) compounds. Structures were identified as anatoluin A (1), anatoluin B (2), 5α,6α-epoxy-ergosta-7,22-dien,3β-ol (3), ergosterol-endoperoxide (4), ergosterol,3β-ol (5), 3,5-dihydroxyfuran-2(5H)-one (6), mannitol (7), turanose (8), fumaric acid (9) using spectroscopic techniques. The cytotoxic activity of extract and isolated compounds was performed using MTT assay against MCF7, HT29, H1299, and HeLa cancerous cell lines while toxicity against PDF and L929 fibroblast healthy cell lines. The lipid peroxidation inhibitory and ABTS•+ scavenging activities were used to determine antioxidant activity. The polar extracts exhibited significant cytotoxic activity. The more perfect is that the extracts and isolated compounds (1-5) were inactive against PDF and L929 healthy cell lines. Compounds 1-3 and 4 exhibited noticeable cytotoxic activity, while 1-5 moderately inhibited lipid peroxidation.

Are chemical compounds in medical mushrooms potent against colorectal cancer carcinogenesis and antimicrobial growth?

After cardiovascular diseases, cancer is the second main cause of death globally. Mushrooms have been demonstrated to contain amalgamation with properties capable of inhibiting carcinogenesis and microbial growth, principally secondary metabolites such as quinolones, steroids, terpenes, anthraquinones, and benzoic acid derivatives among others. This study aimed to substantiate their potency concerning colon cancer carcinogenesis and antimicrobial growth. A systematic search of important literature was performed considering all the articles published until April 2022. Screening was performed by searching the BMC Springer, Elsevier, Embase, Web of Science, Ovid, and MEDLINE databases. In addition, Google Scholar was used to supplement information. Titles and abstracts that matched the established criteria were selected for full-text article scrutiny and subsequently used in the updated present review. Bioactive compounds present in medicinal mushrooms such as ascorbic acid, organic acids, flavonoids, polysaccharides, glycosides, phenols, linoleic acid, grifolin, and tocopherols among other compounds play a key role in suppressing the proliferation of cancerous cells and selectively act as antibacterial and antifungal agents. These metabolites actively scavenge oxygen free radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and nitrite radicals that would otherwise increase the risks of the growth and development of cancerous cells. Mushrooms' bioactive compounds and metabolites actively inhibit nuclear factor-kappa activation, protein kinase B processes, and ultimately the expression of Cyclooxygenases 2 in cancerous cells. Medicinal mushrooms should be considered as alternative natural chemo-preventive agents in the global fight against colon cancer and the evolution of drug-resistant pathogenic microorganisms, as they exhibit robust potency. They have not been reported to exhibit adverse harmful effects compared to synthetic chemotherapies, yet they have been reported to demonstrate significant beneficial effects.

Designing a Novel Peptide-Based Multi-Epitope Vaccine to Evoke a Robust Immune Response against Pathogenic Multidrug-Resistant Providencia heimbachae

Providencia heimbachae, a Gram -ve, rod-shaped, and opportunistic bacteria isolated from the urine, feces, and skin of humans engage in a wide range of infectious diseases such as urinary tract infection (UTI), gastroenteritis, and bacteremia. This bacterium belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family and can resist antibiotics known as multidrug-resistant (MDR), and as such can be life-threatening to humans. After retrieving the whole proteomic sequence of P. heimbachae ATCC 35613, a total of 6 non-homologous and pathogenic proteins were separated. These shortlisted proteins were further analyzed for epitope prediction and found to be highly non-toxic, non-allergenic, and antigenic. From these sequences, T-cell and B-cell (major histocompatibility complex class 1 and 2) epitopes were extracted that provided vaccine constructs, which were then analyzed for population coverage to find its reliability worldwide. The population coverage for MHC-1 and MHC-2 was 98.29% and 81.81%, respectively. Structural prediction was confirmed by validation through physiochemical molecular and immunological characteristics to design a stable and effective vaccine that could give positive results when injected into the body of the organism. Due to this approach, computational vaccines could be an effective alternative against pathogenic microbe since they cover a large population with positive results. In the end, the given findings may help the experimental vaccinologists to develop a very potent and effective peptide-based vaccine.

Designing a Recombinant Vaccine against Providencia rettgeri Using Immunoinformatics Approach

Antibiotic resistance (AR) is the resistance mechanism pattern in bacteria that evolves over some time, thus protecting the bacteria against antibiotics. AR is due to bacterial evolution to make itself fit to changing environmental conditions in a quest for survival of the fittest. AR has emerged due to the misuse and overuse of antimicrobial drugs, and few antibiotics are now left to deal with these superbug infections. To combat AR, vaccination is an effective method, used either therapeutically or prophylactically. In the current study, an in silico approach was applied for the design of multi-epitope-based vaccines against Providencia rettgeri, a major cause of traveler’s diarrhea. A total of six proteins: fimbrial protein, flagellar hook protein (FlgE), flagellar basal body L-ring protein (FlgH), flagellar hook-basal body complex protein (FliE), flagellar basal body P-ring formation protein (FlgA), and Gram-negative pili assembly chaperone domain proteins, were considered as vaccine targets and were utilized for B- and T-cell epitope prediction. The predicted epitopes were assessed for allergenicity, antigenicity, virulence, toxicity, and solubility. Moreover, filtered epitopes were utilized in multi-epitope vaccine construction. The predicted epitopes were joined with each other through specific GPGPG linkers and were joined with cholera toxin B subunit adjuvant via another EAAAK linker in order to enhance the efficacy of the designed vaccine. Docking studies of the designed vaccine construct were performed with MHC-I (PDB ID: 1I1Y), MHC-II (1KG0), and TLR-4 (4G8A). Findings of the docking study were validated through molecular dynamic simulations, which confirmed that the designed vaccine showed strong interactions with the immune receptors, and that the epitopes were exposed to the host immune system for proper recognition and processing. Additionally, binding free energies were estimated, which highlighted both electrostatic energy and van der Waals forces to make the complexes stable. Briefly, findings of the current study are promising and may help experimental vaccinologists to formulate a novel multi-epitope vaccine against P. rettgeri.