Target-based in-silico screening of basil polysaccharides against different epigenetic targets responsible for breast cancer.

Purpose: Breast cancer (BC) is one of the leading types of cancer found in women. One of the causes reported for BC is improper regulation of epigenetic modifications. Various epigenetic targets such as histone deacetylases (HDAC) and histone acetyltransferases (HAT) regulate many types of cancer, including BC. Basil is known to possess anti-cancer properties; however, the role of its polysaccharides against different epigenetic targets is still not very clear. Therefore, the molecular docking method is used to find out the binding potential of the BPSs against different epigenetic targets responsible for BC.

Methods: All the basil polysaccharides (BPSs) were screened against the diverse epigenetic targets reported for BC (HDAC1-2, 4-8, and HAT) using molecular docking studies alongwith swissADME studies to check the drug likeliness of the BPSs.

Results: It was found that glucosamine ring, glucosamine linear, glucuronic acid linear, rhamnose linear, glucuronic acid ring, galactose ring, mannose, glucose, and xylose were exhibited consistent binding potential against the epigenetic targets (HDAC1, HDAC2, HDAC4, HDAC5, HDAC6, HDAC7, HDAC8, and HAT,) responsible for BC.

Conclusion: This is the first report where BPSs were reported against these epigenetic targets. These studies can help to understand the underlying mechanism of BPSs used against epigenetic targets for BC. These results can be further validated experimentally to confirm their potential as a promising inhibitor against the epigenetic targets (HDAC1-2, 4-8, and HAT) having a role in BC.