# Molecular Dynamics Insights into Cassia tora-Derived Phytochemicals as Dual Insecticidal and Antifungal Agents Against Tomato Tuta absoluta and Alternaria solani

## TL;DR

This study explores how compounds from Cassia tora can act as natural insecticides and antifungals against tomato pests and diseases.

## Contribution

The study identifies squalene and DHAME as dual-action biopesticides using molecular dynamics and docking.

## Key findings

- Squalene and DHAME showed strong binding affinities to pest and fungal targets.
- Hydrophobic interactions were key to stabilizing protein targets in pests.
- The compounds may disrupt calcium signaling and stress-response pathways in pests.

## Abstract

The pressing need for sustainable, plant-based alternatives is highlighted by the growing resistance of agricultural pests to synthetic pesticides. This study examined the pesticidal potential of phytocompounds from C. tora discovered by GC–MS analysis against important tomato insect (T. absoluta) and fungal pathogen (A. solani). The binding stability and interaction dynamics of specific metabolites with fungal virulence (polygalacturonase, MAP kinase HOG1, and effector AsCEP50) and insect neuromuscular (ryanodine receptor and sodium channel protein) targets were assessed using molecular docking and 100 ns molecular dynamics simulations. Among the screened compounds, squalene and 4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenoic acid, methyl ester (DHAME) exhibited the strongest binding affinities and conformational stability, with MM-GBSA binding free energies of −38.09 kcal·mol−1 and −52.81 kcal·mol−1 for squalene complexes in T. absoluta and A. solani, respectively. Persistent hydrophobic and mixed hydrophobic–polar contacts that stabilised active-site residues and limited protein flexibility were found by ProLIF analysis. These lively and dynamic profiles imply that DHAME and squalene may interfere with calcium signalling and stress-response pathways, which are essential for the survival and pathogenicity of pests. Hydrophobic interactions were further confirmed as the primary stabilising force by the preponderance of van der Waals and nonpolar solvation energies. The findings show that C. tora metabolites, especially squalene and DHAME, are promising environmentally friendly biopesticide candidates that have both insecticidal and antifungal properties. Their development as sustainable substitutes in integrated pest management systems are supported by their stability, binding efficacy and predicted biosafety.