Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40493694›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Multiscale computational evaluation of Vitex trifolia phytochemicals as VEGFR2 inhibitors for targeted breast cancer therapy.

Arooj Fatima, Muhammad Umer Khan, Saooda Ibrahim, Iqra Khurram, Qasim Ammar, Raima Rehman, Alaa S Alhegaili, Raghad S Alhejaili, Nawal Alsubaie, Muhammad Ikram Ullah

Abstract read
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Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Arooj FatimaInstitute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
Muhammad Umer KhanInstitute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6289-5207
Saooda IbrahimInstitute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
Iqra KhurramInstitute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
Qasim AmmarInstitute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
Raima RehmanCentre of excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
Alaa S AlhegailiDepartment of Medical Laboratory, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
Raghad S AlhejailiAneis Al-Khair Medical Laboratories, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia.
Nawal AlsubaieDepartment of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Muhammad Ikram UllahDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka, Aljouf, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC), the second most common cancer, is a genetically heterogeneous disease driven by angiogenesis, cell growth, metastasis, and oxidative stress. VEGFR2, a key angiogenesis regulator, presents a potential target for inhibiting the angiogenic process essential for tumor growth. The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of phytochemicals of Vitex trifolia to inhibit VEGFR2 for BC. The current study employed extensively in silico-based computational tools to assess the binding affinity and interactions through docking and validating through simulations, along with evaluating the molecular characteristics of the phytochemicals of Vitex trifolia. The docking results revealed that VT-6 (cynaroside) showed the highest docking score (-14.611 kcal/mol), followed by VT-10 (-13.641 kcal/mol) against the VEGFR2 protein. Significant stable interactions were formed by the key interacting residues of the binding pocket (GLU917, ASP1046, LYS868, CYS919, and GLU885), also highlighted through the SIFT analysis. Additionally, the density functional theory (DFT) analysis demonstrated balanced electrophilic and nucleophilic electronic distribution and reactivity for VT-6. The simulations further validated the stability of VT-6 within the binding cavity of VEGFR2, exhibiting flexibility within a range of <3Å and stable conformational changes. Moreover, the MM/GBSA calculations also signify that VT-6 exhibited stronger binding affinity with more negative free energies (-32.5 kcal/mol MM/PBSA, -34.7 kcal/mol MM/GBSA). Notably, principal component analysis (PCA) and free energy landscape (FEL) indicated that the VT-6 complex remained compact during 200 ns simulations. Conclusively, these findings underscore VT-6 as a potent VEGFR2 inhibitor against BC. However, optimizing the ADMET profile through structural modifications and nanocarrier delivery, along with in vivo and in vitro experimental validation, will enhance its therapeutic potential.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsPhytochemicalsVascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2VitexFemaleHumansMolecular Docking SimulationKDR protein, humanPhytochemicalsVascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2

Identifiers

PMID40493694
PMCPMC12151475

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.