# Investigation of the inhibitory potential of secondary metabolites isolated from Fernandoa adenophylla against Beta-glucuronidase via molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies

**Authors:** Abdur Rauf, Rahaf Ajaj, Zuneera Akram, Majid Khan, Abdul Wadood, Maryam Zulfat, Zafar Ali Shah, Abdulhakeem S. Alamri, Walaa F. Alsanie, Majid Alhomrani, Humaira Hussain, Dorota Formanowicz, Viet Phong Nguyen, Viet Phong Nguyen, Viet Phong Nguyen, Viet Phong Nguyen

PMC · DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0324100 · PLOS One · 2025-05-23

## TL;DR

This study explores how compounds from Fernandoa adenophylla can inhibit the enzyme beta-glucuronidase, which may help in treating diseases like cancer and diabetes.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific metabolites from Fernandoa adenophylla with strong inhibitory effects on beta-glucuronidase enzymes.

## Key findings

- Compounds AA and DD inhibited E. coli beta-glucuronidase by 85.2% and 82.6%, respectively.
- Compounds DD and CC showed 92.6% and 90.4% inhibition against the human beta-glucuronidase enzyme.
- Molecular docking and simulations confirmed the compounds' inhibitory potential.

## Abstract

Elevated β-glucuronidase activity is associated with the production of toxic metabolites that contribute to tumor development and other diseases. Inhibiting this enzyme may offer therapeutic potential, including the prevention of colonic carcinogenesis. This study investigates the antidiabetic potential of metabolites derived from Fernandoa adenophylla, using β-glucuronidase as a model enzyme linked to hyperglycemia. Both Escherichia coli and human isoforms of β-glucuronidase were evaluated. Among the tested compounds, AA and DD exhibited the most significant inhibitory activity against the E. coli isoenzyme, with inhibition rates of 85.2% (IC₅₀ = 12.3 µM) and 82.6% (IC₅₀ = 8.2 µM), respectively. Against the human isoenzyme, compounds DD and CC showed the highest inhibition, with 92.6% (IC₅₀ = 28.2 µM) and 90.4% (IC₅₀ = 8.9 µM), respectively. These findings were further supported by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. So, these results highlight the potential of F. adenophylla metabolites as promising candidates for developing novel therapeutic agents targeting β-glucuronidase.

## Linked entities

- **Proteins:** GUSB (glucuronidase beta)
- **Chemicals:** AA (PubChem CID 139137014), DD (PubChem CID 24261), CC (PubChem CID 5280795)
- **Diseases:** hyperglycemia (MONDO:0002909)
- **Species:** Fernandoa adenophylla (taxon 1818589), Escherichia coli (taxon 562), Homo sapiens (taxon 9606)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** GUSB (glucuronidase beta) [NCBI Gene 2990] {aka BG, MPS7}
- **Diseases:** colonic carcinogenesis (MESH:D063646), hyperglycemia (MESH:D006943), tumor (MESH:D009369)
- **Chemicals:** DD (MESH:C007792), AA (-)
- **Species:** Fernandoa adenophylla (species) [taxon 1818589], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Escherichia coli (E. coli, species) [taxon 562]

## Full text

_Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12101693/full.md

## Figures

8 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12101693/full.md

## References

36 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12101693/full.md

---
Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12101693