{"title":"Computer-Aided Drug Design and Drug Discovery.","authors":"Dragos Paul Mihai, George Mihai Nitulescu","doi":"10.3390/ph18030436","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ph18030436","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the rapidly evolving landscape of pharmaceutical research, the integration of computational methods has become a cornerstone in drug discovery and development efforts [...].</p>","PeriodicalId":20198,"journal":{"name":"Pharmaceuticals","volume":"18 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11946204/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143721140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Short-Term Outcomes of Three Consecutive Monthly Loading Administrations of Aflibercept 8 Mg for Treatment-Naïve Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration.","authors":"Shuhei Hosoda, Yoichi Sakurada, Yoshiko Fukuda, Yumi Kotoda, Wataru Kikushima, Kenji Kashiwagi","doi":"10.3390/ph18030438","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ph18030438","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives:</b> The aim was to investigate the short-term outcomes of three consecutive monthly aflibercept 8 mg administrations for treatment-naïve eyes with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). <b>Methods:</b> Twenty-one eyes with exudative AMD were included (type 1 macular neovascularization: eleven eyes; type 2 macular neovascularization, four eyes; and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), six eyes). All eyes received three consecutive monthly administrations of aflibercept 8 mg (114.3 mg/mL) at an injection volume of 0.07 mL. Indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) was performed on eyes with PCV at baseline and at the 3-month visit. <b>Results:</b> The best-corrected visual acuity significantly (BCVA) improved from 0.31 ± 0.38 (baseline) to 0.25 ± 0.38 at the 3-month visits (<i>p</i> = 0.035). Dry macula achieved 62% and 100% at the 1-month and 3-month visits, respectively. Central retinal thickness and subfoveal choroidal thickness significantly decreased by 55.7% and 19.8%, from 341 ± 112 (baseline) to 190 ± 64 (3-month visits) and from 192 ± 50 (baseline) to 154 ± 51 (3-month visits), respectively (both <i>p</i> < 0.001). Complete regression of polypoidal lesions was seen in five (83.3%) eyes out of six on ICGA at the 3-month visit. No systemic adverse events were noted, and one eye developed a retinal pigment epithelial tear one month after the first injection. <b>Conclusions:</b> Three consecutive monthly administrations of aflibercept (8 mg) were safe and effective for resolving exudation and polyp regression, with significant BCVA improvement in treatment-naïve eyes with exudative AMD.</p>","PeriodicalId":20198,"journal":{"name":"Pharmaceuticals","volume":"18 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11945045/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143721178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Enrico Vito Buono, Giuliana Giannì, Sara Scavone, Susanna Esposito, Carlo Caffarelli
{"title":"Omalizumab and Oral Immunotherapy in IgE-Mediated Food Allergy in Children: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Enrico Vito Buono, Giuliana Giannì, Sara Scavone, Susanna Esposito, Carlo Caffarelli","doi":"10.3390/ph18030437","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ph18030437","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Food allergies are a growing global health concern, particularly among children, with no widely approved curative treatment beyond strict allergen avoidance. Oral immunotherapy (OIT) has emerged as a promising strategy to induce desensitization, yet its implementation is limited due to high rates of allergic reactions and patient non-compliance. Omalizumab, a monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, has been proposed as an adjunct to OIT to enhance safety and efficacy. <b>Objective:</b> This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of omalizumab in combination with OIT for IgE-mediated food allergy in children. <b>Methods:</b> A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE and Cochrane Central databases to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs), controlled clinical trials (CCTs), and observational studies assessing omalizumab as an adjunct to OIT in pediatric food allergy. Studies were evaluated for desensitization rates, immunological changes, adverse events, and quality-of-life improvements. <b>Results:</b> OIT combined with omalizumab led to significantly higher rates of desensitization, allowing patients to tolerate higher doses of allergens in a shorter timeframe compared to OIT alone. Omalizumab was associated with a reduction in adverse reactions, including anaphylaxis, and improved treatment adherence. However, the long-term sustainability of tolerance post-omalizumab discontinuation remains uncertain. <b>Conclusions:</b> Omalizumab facilitates rapid and effective desensitization in pediatric food allergy, enhancing the safety of OIT. Further research is needed to determine optimal treatment duration, long-term outcomes, and cost-effectiveness before widespread clinical adoption.</p>","PeriodicalId":20198,"journal":{"name":"Pharmaceuticals","volume":"18 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11946088/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143721215","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Christopher L Haga, Crystal N Le, Xue D Yang, Donald G Phinney
{"title":"Py-CoMSIA: An Open-Source Implementation of Comparative Molecular Similarity Indices Analysis in Python.","authors":"Christopher L Haga, Crystal N Le, Xue D Yang, Donald G Phinney","doi":"10.3390/ph18030440","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ph18030440","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives:</b> The progression of three-dimensional (3D) quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) methodologies has significantly contributed to the advancement of medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical discovery. Comparative Molecular Similarity Indices Analysis (CoMSIA) is a widely used 3D-QSAR technique. However, its reliance on discontinued proprietary software creates accessibility challenges. This work aims to develop an open-source Python library to address these limitations and broaden access to grid-based 3D-QSAR methods. <b>Methods:</b> Py-CoMSIA was developed in Python using RDKit and NumPy for calculations and PyVista for visualizations. <b>Results:</b> Py-CoMSIA provides a functional open-source alternative to proprietary CoMSIA software. It successfully implements the core CoMSIA algorithm and generates comparable similarity indices, as demonstrated by testing several benchmarking datasets including the original CoMSIA steroid dataset. <b>Conclusions:</b> The Py-CoMSIA library addresses the accessibility issues associated with proprietary 3D-QSAR software by providing an open-source Python implementation of CoMSIA. This tool broadens access to complex grid-based 3D-QSAR methodologies and offers a flexible platform for integrating advanced statistical and machine learning techniques.</p>","PeriodicalId":20198,"journal":{"name":"Pharmaceuticals","volume":"18 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11945924/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143720572","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
F Sezer Senol Deniz, Ilkay Erdogan Orhan, Przemyslaw Andrzej Filipek, Abdulselam Ertas, Ronald Gstir, Thomas Jakschitz, Günther Karl Bonn
{"title":"Evaluation of the Anti-Aging Properties of Ethanolic Extracts from Selected Plant Species and Propolis by Enzyme Inhibition Assays and 2D/3D Cell Culture Methods.","authors":"F Sezer Senol Deniz, Ilkay Erdogan Orhan, Przemyslaw Andrzej Filipek, Abdulselam Ertas, Ronald Gstir, Thomas Jakschitz, Günther Karl Bonn","doi":"10.3390/ph18030439","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ph18030439","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Skin aging is a complex biological process affected by internal and external factors that disrupt the skin structure, especially in sun-exposed areas. Elastin and collagen in the dermis layer, responsible for the skin's resistance and elasticity, have been the main subject of research. Since tyrosinase (TYR) is an enzyme found in different organisms and plays an essential role in melanogenesis, inhibitors of this enzyme have been the target mechanism for skin-bleaching product research. <b>Methods</b>: We selected the plant species <i>Cotinus coggygria</i> Scop., <i>Garcinia mangostana</i> L., <i>Pistacia vera</i> L., <i>Vitis vinifera</i> L., and propolis, which exhibited activity against a minimum of three target enzymes-elastase, collagenase, and TYR-in our previous screening study to find the suitable raw material for a cosmetic product. In the current research, the extracts from these samples were tested through a cell-free enzyme assay using validated elastase, collagenase, and TYR inhibition kits. We also performed the safety and efficacy tests of the selected extracts with 2D/3D cell culture methods. <b>Results</b>: Our data revealed the propolis extract among the tested ones displayed remarkable anti-inflammatory activity in the 2D (NF-κB induction: 10.81%) and 3D assays. <i>Cotinus coggygria</i> leaf and <i>Garcinia mangostana</i> shell extracts exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in the 2D luciferase reporter assay via TNFα addition. <i>C. coggygria</i> leaf, <i>V. vinifera</i> (grape) seed, and propolis extracts were selected for testing in 3D cell culture methods based on the 2D cytotoxicity results with cell viability values of 54.75%, 93.19%, and 98.64% at 34.25 µg/mL, respectively. The general phytochemical profiles of these three extracts were examined in terms of 53 phenolic compounds with LC-MS/MS, revealing that quinic acid, epicatechin, and acacetin were the dominant phenolics among the tested ones. <b>Conclusions</b>: It is the first study conducted to evaluate the use of the extracts indicated above in cosmetics by employing procedures involving 3D cell culture.</p>","PeriodicalId":20198,"journal":{"name":"Pharmaceuticals","volume":"18 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11944460/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143720629","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Phenotyping the Use of Cangrelor in Percutaneous Coronary Interventions.","authors":"Nikolaos Pyrpyris, Kyriakos Dimitriadis, Konstantinos G Kyriakoulis, Stergios Soulaidopoulos, Panagiotis Tsioufis, Aggelos Papanikolaou, Nikolaos G Baikoussis, Alexios Antonopoulos, Konstantinos Aznaouridis, Konstantinos Tsioufis","doi":"10.3390/ph18030432","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ph18030432","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The use of antiplatelet agents is essential in percutaneous coronary interventions, both periprocedurally and in the post-interventional period. Procedural antiplatelet therapy, aiming to limit ischemic complications, is mostly administered with oral agents, including aspirin and P2Y12 inhibitors. However, there are several limitations in the use of oral P2Y12 inhibitors, including their difficult administration in patients presenting with cardiogenic shock and their relatively slower onset of action, leaving a significant period of the procedure with a suboptimal antiplatelet effect. These pitfalls could be avoided with the use of cangrelor, the only available intravenous P2Y12 inhibitor, which has a rapid onset and offset antiplatelet effect, as well as a favorable pharmacological profile. The use of cangrelor has been increasing in recent years, with several studies aiming to determine what the optimal patient phenotype to receive such treatment ultimately is and how its use could be adjunctive to oral P2Y12 inhibitors. Therefore, the aim of this review is to provide an overview of the pharmacological profile of cangrelor and an update regarding the clinical evidence supporting its use, as well as to discuss the optimal patient phenotype, related clinical algorithms, and future implications for larger implementation of this agent into everyday clinical practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":20198,"journal":{"name":"Pharmaceuticals","volume":"18 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11944903/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143721233","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sijing Du, Tianxiang Wang, Zhiqiang Li, Ting Li, Zelong Miao, Yuling Chen, Songbiao Zhu, Wei Wei, Haiteng Deng
{"title":"Therapeutic Potential of Qilianxiaopi Formula: Targeting ADAM17-Mediated Chronic Inflammation in Atrophic Gastritis.","authors":"Sijing Du, Tianxiang Wang, Zhiqiang Li, Ting Li, Zelong Miao, Yuling Chen, Songbiao Zhu, Wei Wei, Haiteng Deng","doi":"10.3390/ph18030435","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ph18030435","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Gastric cancer (GC) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, particularly in China. Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) and intestinal metaplasia (IM) are recognized as precancerous conditions contributing to GC development. Qilianxiaopi formula (QLXP), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has demonstrated significant therapeutic effects on CAG and IM; however, its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. <b>Methods</b>: This study utilized chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify the major compounds in QLXP. Network pharmacology was used to predict the associated targets of these components. Thermal proteome profiling (TPP) pinpointed the potential binding proteins of QLXP, which were validated by bioinformatic analyses. Bio-layer interferometry (BLI) was used to analyze the interactions between QLXP and its key target proteins, thereby determining their binding components. Molecular docking predicted the binding modes between the components and proteins. <b>Results</b>: ADAM17 was identified as a key binding protein for QLXP. Further investigation revealed that QLXP inhibits the enzymatic activity of ADAM17, thereby reducing the secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α, contributing to the anti-inflammatory properties of QLXP. BLI confirmed direct and reversible binding interactions between QLXP and ADAM17. Narirutin, isolated from the ADAM17 binding fraction, displayed the highest affinity for QLXP. <b>Conclusions</b>: This study highlights ADAM17 as a key molecular target of QLXP and narirutin as its principal binding component. The integrated approach combining chromatography-mass spectrometry, network pharmacology, TPP, BLI, and molecular docking provides a robust framework for elucidating the mechanisms of action of TCM.</p>","PeriodicalId":20198,"journal":{"name":"Pharmaceuticals","volume":"18 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11944831/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143721205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Beatriz Noriega-Fernandes, Mariam Ibrahim, Rui Cruz, Philip J Kuehl, Kimberly B Shepard
{"title":"Navigating the Development of Dry Powder for Inhalation: A CDMO Perspective.","authors":"Beatriz Noriega-Fernandes, Mariam Ibrahim, Rui Cruz, Philip J Kuehl, Kimberly B Shepard","doi":"10.3390/ph18030434","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ph18030434","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Interest in pulmonary/nasal routes for local delivery has significantly increased over the last decade owing to challenges faced in the delivery of molecules with poor solubility, systemic side effects, or new modalities such as biologics. This increasing interest has attracted new stakeholders to the field who have yet to explore inhaled drug product development. Contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) play a key role in supporting the development of drug products for inhalation, from early feasibility to post marketing. However, a critical gap exists for these newcomers: a clear, integrated, and a CDMO-centric roadmap for navigating the complexities of pulmonary/nasal drug product development. The purpose of this publication is to highlight the key aspects considered in the product development of inhaled dry powder products from a CDMO perspective, providing a novel and stepwise development strategy. A roadmap for the development of inhalable drug products is proposed with authors' recommendations to facilitate the decision-making process, starting from the definition of the desired target product profile followed by dose selection in preclinical studies. The importance of understanding the nature of the API, whether a small molecule or a biologic, will be highlighted. Additionally, technical guidance on the choice of formulation (dry powder/liquid) will be provided with special focus on dry powders. Selection criteria for the particle engineering technology, mainly jet milling and spray drying, will also be discussed, including the advantages and limitations of such technologies, based on the authors' industry expertise. Lastly, the paper will highlight the challenges and considerations for encapsulating both spray dried and jet milled powders. Unlike existing literature, this paper offers a unified framework that bridges preclinical, formulation, manufacturing, and encapsulation considerations, providing a practical tool for newcomers.</p>","PeriodicalId":20198,"journal":{"name":"Pharmaceuticals","volume":"18 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11944951/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143721194","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dóra Géczi, Álmos Klekner, István Balogh, András Penyige, Melinda Szilágyi, József Virga, Andrea Bakó, Bálint Nagy, Bernadett Torner, Zsuzsanna Birkó
{"title":"Identification of Deregulated miRNAs and mRNAs Involved in Tumorigenesis and Detection of Glioblastoma Patients Applying Next-Generation RNA Sequencing.","authors":"Dóra Géczi, Álmos Klekner, István Balogh, András Penyige, Melinda Szilágyi, József Virga, Andrea Bakó, Bálint Nagy, Bernadett Torner, Zsuzsanna Birkó","doi":"10.3390/ph18030431","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ph18030431","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>(1) <b>Background:</b> Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most aggressive brain tumors with a poor prognosis. Therefore, new insights into GBM diagnosis and treatment are required. In addition to differentially expressed mRNAs, miRNAs may have the potential to be applied as diagnostic biomarkers. (2) <b>Methods:</b> In this study, profiling of human miRNAs in combination with mRNAs was performed on total RNA isolated from tissue samples of five control and five GBM patients, using a high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) approach. (3) <b>Results:</b> A total of 35 miRNAs and 365 mRNAs were upregulated, while 82 miRNAs and 1225 mRNAs showed significant downregulation between tissue samples of GBM patients compared to the control samples using the iDEP <i>tool</i> to analyze RNA-Seq data. To validate our results, the expression of five miRNAs (hsa-miR-196a-5p, hsa-miR-21-3p, hsa-miR-10b-3p, hsa-miR-383-5p, and hsa-miR-490-3p) and fourteen mRNAs (E2F2, HOXD13, VEGFA, CDC45, AURKB, HOXC10, MYBL2, FABP6, PRLHR, NEUROD6, CBLN1, HRH3, HCN1, and RELN) was determined by RT-qPCR assay. The miRNet tool was used to build miRNA-target interaction. Furthermore, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was created from the miRNA targets by applying the NetworkAnalyst 3.0 tool. Based on the PPI network, a functional enrichment analysis of the target proteins was also carried out. (4) <b>Conclusions:</b> We identified an miRNA panel and several deregulated mRNAs that could play an important role in tumor development and distinguish GBM patients from healthy controls with high sensitivity and specificity using total RNA isolated from tissue samples.</p>","PeriodicalId":20198,"journal":{"name":"Pharmaceuticals","volume":"18 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11944724/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143721105","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Arif Jamal Siddiqui, Salem Elkahoui, Ahmed Mohajja Alshammari, Mitesh Patel, Ahmed Eisa Mahmoud Ghoniem, Randa Abdeen Husien Abdalla, Hemlata Dwivedi-Agnihotri, Riadh Badraoui, Mohd Adnan
{"title":"Mechanistic Insights into the Anticancer Potential of <i>Asparagus racemosus</i> Willd. Against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation Study.","authors":"Arif Jamal Siddiqui, Salem Elkahoui, Ahmed Mohajja Alshammari, Mitesh Patel, Ahmed Eisa Mahmoud Ghoniem, Randa Abdeen Husien Abdalla, Hemlata Dwivedi-Agnihotri, Riadh Badraoui, Mohd Adnan","doi":"10.3390/ph18030433","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ph18030433","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives</b>: The present study investigated the anticancer potential of <i>Asparagus racemosus</i> Willd. against triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) using a combined in silico and in vitro approach. <b>Methods</b>: Network pharmacology identified 115 potential targets shared between <i>A. racemosus</i> phytochemicals and TNBC, highlighting key cancer-related pathways. Molecular docking predicted strong binding affinities between specific phytochemicals (beta-sitosterol, quercetin, and others) and crucial TNBC targets, including AKT1 and ERBB2. <b>Results</b>: Molecular dynamics simulations validated these interactions, demonstrating stable complex formation. In vitro, <i>A. racemosus</i> crude extracts exhibited potent anticancer activity against MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells, showing a dose-dependent reduction in viability (IC<sub>50</sub> = 90.44 μg/mL), induction of G1 phase cell cycle arrest, and significant early apoptosis. <b>Conclusions</b>: These integrated findings provide compelling evidence for the anticancer potential of <i>A. racemosus</i> against TNBC, suggesting its promise for further development as a therapeutic strategy.</p>","PeriodicalId":20198,"journal":{"name":"Pharmaceuticals","volume":"18 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11944961/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143721116","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}