Marine-derived EGFR inhibitors: novel compounds targeting breast cancer growth and drug resistance.

Breast cancer (BC) continues to be a major health challenge globally, ranking as the fifth leading cause of cancer mortality among women, despite advancements in cancer detection and treatment. In this study, we identified four novel compounds from marine organisms that effectively target and inhibit the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), crucial for BC cell growth and proliferation. These compounds not only induced early apoptosis through Caspase-3 activation but also showed significant inhibitory effects on EGFR mutations associated with drug resistance (T790M, L858R, and L858R/T790M), demonstrating high EGFR kinase selectivity. Cell Thermal Shift Assay (CETSA) experiments indicated that Tandyukisin stabilizes EGFR in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, binding competition assays using surface plasmon resonance technology revealed that Tandyukisin and Trichoharzin bound to distinct sites on EGFR and that their combined use enhanced apoptosis in BC cells. This discovery may pave the way for developing new marine-derived EGFR inhibitors, offering a promising avenue for innovative cancer treatment strategies and addressing EGFR-mediated drug resistance.

Seawater fungi-derived compound screening to identify novel small molecules against dengue virus NS5 methyltransferase and NS2B/NS3 protease.

Dengue fever is a virus spread by mosquitoes that has no effective treatment or vaccination. Several dengue cases combined with the current COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbates this problem. Two proteins, NS5 methyltransferase and NS2B/NS3 primary protease complexes, are crucial for dengue viral replication and are the target sites for antiviral development. Thus, this study screened published literature and identified 162 marine fungus-derived compounds with active bioavailability. Following Lipinski's rules and antiviral property prediction, 41 compounds were selected for docking with NS5 methyltransferase and NS2B/NS3 protease (PDB ID: 6IZZ and 2FOM) to evaluate compounds that could stop the action of dengue viral protein complexes. To find the best candidates, computational ADME, toxicity, and drug target prediction were performed to estimate the potential of the multi-targeting fungal-derived natural compounds. Analyzing the result from 41 compounds, Chevalone E (-13.5 kcal/mol), Sterolic acid (-10.3 kcal/mol) showed higher binding energy against dengue NS2B/NS3 protease; meanwhile, Chevalone E (-12.0 kcal/mol), Brevione K (-7.4 kcal/mol), had greater binding affinity against NS5 methyltransferase. Consequently, this study suggests that Chevalone E is an effective inhibitor of NS5 methyltransferase and NS2B/NS3 protease. Ligand-based virtual screening from DrugBank was utilized to predict biologically active small compounds against dengue virus NS2B/NS3 major protease and NS5 methyltransferase. Both licensed medications, estramustine (DB01196) and quinestrol (DB04575), were found to be similar to Chevalone E, with prediction scores of 0.818 and 0.856, respectively. In addition, cholic acid (DB02659), acitretin (DB00459), and mupirocin (DB00410) are similar to Sterolic acid, zidovudine (DB00495), imipenem (DB01598), and nadolol (DB01203) are similar to Brocazine A, and budesonide (DB01222) and colchicine (DB01394) are related to Brevione K. These findings suggest that these could be feasible dengue virus treatment options, meaning that more research is needed.

Inhibitory Potentiality of Secondary Metabolites Extracted from Marine Fungus Target on Avian Influenza Virus-A Subtype H5N8 (Neuraminidase) and H5N1 (Nucleoprotein): A Rational Virtual Screening.

Highly contagious avian influenza virus' (AIV) subtypes, including H5N1 and H5N8 are considered as serious threats for poultry industry. Despite its severity, treatment and mitigation attempts are fall into baffling. Though a few approved anti-influenza medications are available, the M2 channel blockers amantadine and rimantadine, as well as the neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir are being less effective due to widespread drug resistance. To cope up with these circumstances, scientists have found nucleoprotein as a novice drug targeting site for H5N1. Hence, the current study used a rational screening method to find the best candidates for nucleoprotein inhibitors of H5N1 subtype and neuraminidase inhibitors for H5N8 subtype against pathogenic AIV. Finding the best candidates, molecular docking method and computational pharmacokinetics and pharmacology was developed to estimate the potential of the multi-targeting fungal-derived natural compounds for the development of drug. Chevalone E compound was found as the best inhibitor for both nucleoprotein and neuraminidase of H5N1 and H5N8 subtypes respectively, whereas, Brevione F and Brocazine-A for nucleoprotein with Penilactone-A and Aspergifuranone for neuraminidase. In case of drug prediction, the study recommends Estramustine and Iloprost against both nucleoprotein and neuraminidase. Besides these, Butorphanol, Desvenlafaxine, Zidovudine and Nadolol are the best drug candidates for nucleoprotein inhibitors, meanwhile, Sitaxentan, Ergoloid mesylate, Capecitabine and Fenoterol act as speculated candidates against neuraminidase.

Marine-Derived Compounds for the Potential Treatment of Glucocorticoid Resistance in Severe Asthma.

One of the challenges to the management of severe asthma is the poor therapeutic response to treatment with glucocorticosteroids. Compounds derived from marine sources have received increasing interest in recent years due to their prominent biologically active properties for biomedical applications, as well as their sustainability and safety for drug development. Based on the pathobiological features associated with glucocorticoid resistance in severe asthma, many studies have already described many glucocorticoid resistance mechanisms as potential therapeutic targets. On the other hand, in the last decade, many studies described the potentially anti-inflammatory effects of marine-derived biologically active compounds. Analyzing the underlying anti-inflammatory mechanisms of action for these marine-derived biologically active compounds, we observed some of the targeted pathogenic molecular mechanisms similar to those described in glucocorticoid (GC) resistant asthma. This article gathers the marine-derived compounds targeting pathogenic molecular mechanism involved in GC resistant asthma and provides a basis for the development of effective marine-derived drugs.

Marine-Derived Compounds with Anti-Alzheimer's Disease Activities.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible and progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and, eventually, the ability to perform simple tasks. As the aging population continues to increase exponentially, AD has become a big concern for society. Therefore, neuroprotective compounds are in the spotlight, as a means to tackle this problem. On the other hand, since it is believed-in many cultures-that marine organisms in an individual diet cannot only improve brain functioning, but also slow down its dysfunction, many researchers have focused on identifying neuroprotective compounds from marine resources. The fact that the marine environment is a rich source of structurally unique and biologically and pharmacologically active compounds, with unprecedented mechanisms of action, marine macroorganisms, such as tunicates, corals, sponges, algae, as well as microorganisms, such as marine-derived bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi, have been the target sources of these compounds. Therefore, this literature review summarizes and categorizes various classes of marine-derived compounds that are able to inhibit key enzymes involved in AD, including acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), ß-secretase (BACE-1), and different kinases, together with the related pathways involved in the pathogenesis of AD. The compounds discussed herein are emerging as promising anti-AD activities for further in-depth in vitro and in vivo investigations, to gain more insight of their mechanisms of action and for the development of potential anti-AD drug leads.

Development of Marine-Derived Compounds for Cancer Therapy.

Cancer has always been a threat to human health with its high morbidity and mortality rates. Traditional therapy, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, plays a key role in cancer treatment. However, it is not able to prevent tumor recurrence, drug resistance and treatment side effects, which makes it a very attractive challenge to search for new effective and specific anticancer drugs. Nature is a valuable source of multiple pharmaceuticals, and most of the anticancer drugs are natural products or derived from them. Marine-derived compounds, such as nucleotides, proteins, peptides and amides, have also shed light on cancer therapy, and they are receiving a fast-growing interest due to their bioactive properties. Their mechanisms contain anti-angiogenic, anti-proliferative and anti-metastasis activities; cell cycle arrest; and induction of apoptosis. This review provides an overview on the development of marine-derived compounds with anticancer properties, both their applications and mechanisms, and discovered technologies.

Dieckol and Its Derivatives as Potential Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein (UK Strain: VUI 202012/01): A Computational Study.

The high risk of morbidity and mortality associated with SARS-CoV-2 has accelerated the development of many potential vaccines. However, these vaccines are designed against SARS-CoV-2 isolated in Wuhan, China, and thereby may not be effective against other SARS-CoV-2 variants such as the United Kingdom variant (VUI-202012/01). The UK SARS-CoV-2 variant possesses D614G mutation in the Spike protein, which impart it a high rate of infection. Therefore, newer strategies are warranted to design novel vaccines and drug candidates specifically designed against the mutated forms of SARS-CoV-2. One such strategy is to target ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme2)-Spike protein RBD (receptor binding domain) interaction. Here, we generated a homology model of Spike protein RBD of SARS-CoV-2 UK strain and screened a marine seaweed database employing different computational approaches. On the basis of high-throughput virtual screening, standard precision, and extra precision molecular docking, we identified BE011 (Dieckol) as the most potent compounds against RBD. However, Dieckol did not display drug-like properties, and thus different derivatives of it were generated in silico and evaluated for binding potential and drug-like properties. One Dieckol derivative (DK07) displayed good binding affinity for RBD along with acceptable physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, drug-likeness, and ADMET properties. Analysis of the RBD-DK07 interaction suggested the formation of hydrogen bonds, electrostatic interactions, and hydrophobic interactions with key residues mediating the ACE2-RBD interaction. Molecular dynamics simulation confirmed the stability of the RBD-DK07 complex. Free energy calculations suggested the primary role of electrostatic and Van der Waals' interaction in stabilizing the RBD-DK07 complex. Thus, DK07 may be developed as a potential inhibitor of the RBD-ACE2 interaction. However, these results warrant further validation by in vitro and in vivo studies.

Screening marine algae metabolites as high-affinity inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 main protease (3CLpro): an in silico analysis to identify novel drug candidates to combat COVID-19 pandemic.

The recent dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 from Wuhan city to all over the world has created a pandemic. COVID-19 has cost many human lives and created an enormous economic burden. Although many drugs/vaccines are in different stages of clinical trials, still none is clinically available. We have screened a marine seaweed database (1110 compounds) against 3CLpro of SARS-CoV-2 using computational approaches. High throughput virtual screening was performed on compounds, and 86 of them with docking score < - 5.000 kcal mol-1 were subjected to standard-precision docking. Based on binding energies (< - 6.000 kcal mol-1), 9 compounds were further shortlisted and subjected to extra-precision docking. Free energy calculation by Prime-MM/GBSA suggested RC002, GA004, and GA006 as the most potent inhibitors of 3CLpro. An analysis of ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity) properties of RC002, GA004, and GA006 indicated that only RC002 (callophysin A, from red alga Callophycus oppositifolius) passed Lipinski's, Veber's, PAINS and Brenk's filters and displayed drug-like and lead-like properties. Analysis of 3CLpro-callophysin A complex revealed the involvement of salt bridge, hydrogen bonds, and hydrophobic interactions. callophysin A interacted with the catalytic residues (His41 and Cys145) of 3CLpro; hence it may act as a mechanism-based competitive inhibitor. Docking energy and docking affinity of callophysin A towards 3CLpro was - 8.776 kcal mol-1 and 2.73 × 106 M-1, respectively. Molecular dynamics simulation confirmed the stability of the 3CLpro-callophysin A complex. The findings of this study may serve as the basis for further validation by in vitro and in vivo studies.

Marine-Derived Compounds with Potential Use as Cosmeceuticals and Nutricosmetics.

The cosmetic industry is among the fastest growing industries in the last decade. As the beauty concepts have been revolutionized, many terms have been coined to accompany the innovation of this industry, since the beauty products are not just confined to those that are applied to protect and enhance the appearance of the human body. Consequently, the terms such as cosmeceuticals and nutricosmetics have emerged to give a notion of the health benefits of the products that create the beauty from inside to outside. In the past years, natural products-based cosmeceuticals have gained a huge amount of attention not only from researchers but also from the public due to the general belief that they are harmless. Notably, in recent years, the demand for cosmeceuticals from the marine resources has been exponentially on the rise due to their unique chemical and biological properties that are not found in terrestrial resources. Therefore, the present review addresses the importance of marine-derived compounds, stressing new chemical entities with cosmeceutical potential from the marine natural resources and their mechanisms of action by which these compounds exert on the body functions as well as their related health benefits. Marine environments are the most important reservoir of biodiversity that provide biologically active substances whose potential is still to be discovered for application as pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmeceuticals. Marine organisms are not only an important renewable source of valuable bulk compounds used in cosmetic industry such as agar and carrageenan, which are used as gelling and thickening agents to increase the viscosity of cosmetic formulations, but also of small molecules such as ectoine (to promote skin hydration), trichodin A (to prevent product alteration caused by microbial contamination), and mytiloxanthin (as a coloring agent). Marine-derived molecules can also function as active ingredients, being the main compounds that determine the function of cosmeceuticals such as anti-tyrosinase (kojic acid), antiacne (sargafuran), whitening (chrysophanol), UV protection (scytonemin, mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs)), antioxidants, and anti-wrinkle (astaxanthin and PUFAs).

Marine-Derived Biologically Active Compounds for the Potential Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease with a prevalence rate of up to 1% and is significantly considered a common worldwide public health concern. Commercially, several traditional formulations are available to treat RA to some extent. However, these synthetic compounds exert toxicity and considerable side effects even at lower therapeutic concentrations. Considering the above-mentioned critiques, research is underway around the world in finding and exploiting potential alternatives. For instance, marine-derived biologically active compounds have gained much interest and are thus being extensively utilized to confront the confines of in practice counterparts, which have become ineffective for 21st-century medical settings. The utilization of naturally available bioactive compounds and their derivatives can minimize these synthetic compounds' problems to treat RA. Several marine-derived compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and can be effectively used for therapeutic purposes against RA. The results of several studies ensured that the extraction of biologically active compounds from marine sources could provide a new and safe source for drug development against RA. Finally, current challenges, gaps, and future perspectives have been included in this review.

Can marine-derived fungus Neosartorya siamensis KUFA 0017 extract and its secondary metabolites enhance antitumor activity of doxorubicin? An in vitro survey unveils interactions against lung cancer cells.

Doxorubicin (Dox) is one of the most successful anticancer drugs in use. However, chemoresistance is one of the main limitations that patients face. Therefore, development of new strategies to improve the efficacy of Dox is needed. Marine-derived fungi are especially promising sources of new anticancer compounds. In this work, antitumor activity of crude ethyl extract of the cultures of the marine-derived fungus Neosartorya siamensis KUFA 0017 (NS), combined with Dox, was evaluated in six cancer cell lines. To evaluate possible mechanisms involved in the eventual improvement of Dox's cytotoxicity by NS extract, effects on DNA damage, cell death, ultrastructural modifications, and intracellular accumulation of Dox were assessed. The NS extract demonstrated a significant enhancement of Dox's cytotoxic activity in A549 cells, inducing DNA damage, cell death, and intracellular accumulation of Dox. Additionally, the cytotoxic effect of eight compounds, isolated from this extract, that is, 2,4-dihydroxy-3-methylacetophenone-(C1), nortryptoquivaline-(C2), chevalone C-(C3), tryptoquivaline H-(C4), fiscalin A-(C5), epi-fiscalin-C (C6), epi-neofiscalin A-(C7), and epi-fiscalin A-(C8), alone and combined with Dox was also evaluated in lung cancer cells. The cytotoxic effect of Dox was potentiated by all the isolated compounds (except C1) in A549 cells. Therefore, we concluded that NS extract potentiated cytotoxicity by inhibiting cell proliferation, increasing intracellular accumulation of Dox, and inducing cell death (possibly by an autophagic process). The isolated compounds also enhanced the activity of Dox, supporting the potential of this sort of combination. These data call for further studies to characterize drug interactions and underlying mechanisms.

Biotechnological Potential of Bacteria Isolated from the Sea Cucumber Holothuria leucospilota and Stichopus vastus from Lampung, Indonesia.

In order to minimize re-discovery of already known anti-infective compounds, we focused our screening approach on understudied, almost untapped marine environments including marine invertebrates and their associated bacteria. Therefore, two sea cucumber species, Holothuria leucospilota and Stichopus vastus, were collected from Lampung (Indonesia), and 127 bacterial strains were identified by partial 16S rRNA-gene sequencing analysis and compared with the NCBI database. In addition, the overall bacterial diversity from tissue samples of the sea cucumbers H. leucospilota and S. vastus was analyzed using the cultivation-independent Illumina MiSEQ analysis. Selected bacterial isolates were grown to high densities and the extracted biomass was tested against a selection of bacteria and fungi as well as the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Identification of putative bioactive bacterial-derived compounds were performed by analyzing the accurate mass of the precursor/parent ions (MS1) as well as product/daughter ions (MS2) using high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) analysis of all active fractions. With this attempt we were able to identify 23 putatively known and two previously unidentified precursor ions. Moreover, through 16S rRNA-gene sequencing we were able to identify putatively novel bacterial species from the phyla Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and also Firmicutes. Our findings suggest that sea cucumbers like H. leucospilota and S. vastus are promising sources for the isolation of novel bacterial species that produce compounds with potentially high biotechnological potential.