Published online Jun 16, 2023. doi: 10.5497/wjp.v12.i3.25
Peer-review started: March 1, 2023
First decision: April 13, 2023
Revised: May 5, 2023
Accepted: May 31, 2023
Article in press: May 31, 2023
Published online: June 16, 2023
Processing time: 104 Days and 12.1 Hours
Isopavines are alkaloids derived from plants of the genus Papaver that have biological activity for the treatment of neurological disorders. Amurensinine is a little-studied isopavine whose activity in relation to neurological disorders has not been studied. Research on this isopavine may contribute new information about its action.
The research motivation was the scarce literature on the subject. There are few studies in health care using isopavines; similarly, studies on Amurensinine are quite scarce. Therefore, we studied Amurensinine in silico to verify its preliminary therapeutic potential.
To study, in silico, the interaction between Amurensinine and the N-methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptor, which is involved in the onset of neurological disorders.
In this study we used molecular docking, a standardized bioinformatics methodology for analyzing chemical interactions between receptors and ligands.
The research results indicated that Amurensinine can interact with the NMDA receptor with high affinity, and that its protonation state does not significantly interfere with this affinity.
The results of the research were satisfactory, as Amurensinine was able to bind to the tNMDA receptor. The occurrence of interaction indicates that this isopavine may interfere with the activity of the receptor. Since it binds with similar affinity and to the same subunit as the antagonist Ifenprodil, it may act as an inhibitor of the receptor. However, in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to affirm this.
The research perspective is to conduct further in silico analyses with Amurensinine and other receptors involved in the onset of neurological diseases to further evaluate the potential of this isopavine for health care.