Interactions of antiparasitic alkaloids with Leishmania protein targets: a molecular docking analysis
Ifedayo Victor Ogungbe1, Joseph D Ng, William N Setzer
1Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, USA.
Background:
Leishmaniasis is a collection of chronic diseases caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania. Current antileishmanial chemotherapeutics have demonstrated adverse side effects and therefore R&D into new safer alternative treatments are needed.
Methods:
A molecular docking analysis has been carried out to assess possible Leishmania biochemical targets of antiparasitic alkaloids. A total of 209 antiparasitic alkaloids were docked with 24 Leishmania protein targets.
Results:
The strongest docking alkaloid ligands were flinderoles A and B and juliflorine with Leishmania major methionyl-tRNA synthetase; juliflorine, juliprosine, prosopilosidine and prosopilosine with Leishmania mexicana glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; and ancistrogriffithine A with L. major N-myristoyl transferase.
Conclusion:
This molecular docking study has provided evidence for what classes and structural types of alkaloids may be targeting specific Leishmania protein targets.
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