The Journal of Phytopharmacology 2024; 13(5):361-365 DOI:10.31254/phyto.2024.13504

Research Article

In silico exploration of the mechanistic insights: interactions of curcumin, quercetin, and ethephon with estrogen receptors and steroidogenic enzymes

Krishnanjana VJ¹ , Sujith S² , Nisaath Begum³ , Nisha AR⁴ , Suresh N Nair⁵ , Bibu John Kariyil⁶ , Devi SS⁶

Krishnanjana VJ,Sujith S,Nisaath Begum,Nisha AR,Suresh N Nair,Bibu John Kariyil,Devi SS

1. MVSc Scholar, Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Mannuthy, Thrissur- 680651, Kerala, India
2. Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Pookode, Wayanad- 673576, Kerala, India
3. Phd Scholar, Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Mannuthy, Thrissur- 680651, Kerala, India
4. Professor and Head, Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Mannuthy, Thrissur- 680651, Kerala, India
5. Associate Professor, Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Mannuthy, Thrissur- 680651, Kerala, India
6. Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Mannuthy, Thrissur- 680651, Kerala, India

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 27th August, 2024 / Accepted: 18th October, 2024

Abstract

Background: Ethephon is a widely used plant growth regulator in agriculture to promote fruit ripening, abscission, flower induction and seed germination which hold chances of mammalian toxicity due to environmental and food contamination. Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound obtained from turmeric and quercetin, a flavonoid present in several vegetables and fruits can influence pituitary and ovarian hormones and mediate benefits on reproductive processes. In this context, the present study was undertaken with the objectives of determining whether curcumin and quercetin have an ameliorative effect on probable adverse effects of ethephon in reproductive system by in silico analysis. Method: To identify mechanism of ethephon, quercetin and curcumin, molecular docking has been performed. Three dimensional structures of ER α (PDB Id: 1A52), ER β (PDB Id: 1X7B), CYP19A1 (PDB Id: 3S79), CYP11A1 (PDB Id: 3NA1), CYP17 (PDB Id: 3RUK), 17βHSD (PDB Id: 1BHS), StAR proteins (PDB Id:3P0L) were retrieved from RCSB and docking was done with AutoDock V 4.0 using three ligands. Results: The binding energies of curcumin and quercetin showed more binding energy ranging from -7.97 to -3.12 where as that of ethephon was from -4.44 to -1.56 with all the proteins under study. Curcumin and quercetin showed no affinity towards ER α. Ethephon showed more affinity to ER α than curcumin and quercetin (217.20 and 32.87 kcal/mol respectively). Conclusion: From this study, it could be concluded that curcumin and quercetin can provide an ameliorative effect on reproductive toxicity that can be caused by ethephon.