Evaluation of natural compounds as folate biosynthesis inhibitors in Mycobacterium leprae using docking, ADMET analysis, and molecular dynamics simulation

Mycobacterium leprae, the bacterium that causes leprosy, is still a public health concern which requires innovative strategies to fight drug-resistant forms. This study investigates the potential of natural compounds as FolP protein inhibitors, a key enzyme in the folate biosynthesis pathway critica...

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Main Authors: Alanzi Abdullah R., Alharbi Hattan A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: De Gruyter 2025-04-01
Series:Open Chemistry
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1515/chem-2025-0145
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author Alanzi Abdullah R.
Alharbi Hattan A.
author_facet Alanzi Abdullah R.
Alharbi Hattan A.
author_sort Alanzi Abdullah R.
collection DOAJ
description Mycobacterium leprae, the bacterium that causes leprosy, is still a public health concern which requires innovative strategies to fight drug-resistant forms. This study investigates the potential of natural compounds as FolP protein inhibitors, a key enzyme in the folate biosynthesis pathway critical for M. leprae survival. The aim of this work was to search for natural chemicals that can inhibit FolP protein using molecular docking and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) analysis. Using the standard precision method of the Glide tool, the FolP protein was matched to a library of natural products comprising 1,400 compounds. Ten of the most promising compounds were chosen for further investigation based on their binding affinities. The binding affinities of the selected compounds ranged from −7.851 to −7.219 kcal/mol. The ADMET properties and toxicity risks of the selected compounds were assessed, and the predicted values of three compounds (LTS0262854, LTS0241035, and LTS0033598) were found to be within an acceptable range. Moreover, the docking studies were supported by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. MD simulations showed that these compounds were stable as potent inhibitors inside the protein binding region. The findings of this study may help develop safe and efficient antileprosy medications, addressing the urgent demand for advanced leprosy care and treatment.
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spelling doaj-art-6f79e3027c624c038c28bba8c484dcec2025-08-20T02:20:03ZengDe GruyterOpen Chemistry2391-54202025-04-01231p. 16556810.1515/chem-2025-0145Evaluation of natural compounds as folate biosynthesis inhibitors in Mycobacterium leprae using docking, ADMET analysis, and molecular dynamics simulationAlanzi Abdullah R.0Alharbi Hattan A.1Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi ArabiaMycobacterium leprae, the bacterium that causes leprosy, is still a public health concern which requires innovative strategies to fight drug-resistant forms. This study investigates the potential of natural compounds as FolP protein inhibitors, a key enzyme in the folate biosynthesis pathway critical for M. leprae survival. The aim of this work was to search for natural chemicals that can inhibit FolP protein using molecular docking and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) analysis. Using the standard precision method of the Glide tool, the FolP protein was matched to a library of natural products comprising 1,400 compounds. Ten of the most promising compounds were chosen for further investigation based on their binding affinities. The binding affinities of the selected compounds ranged from −7.851 to −7.219 kcal/mol. The ADMET properties and toxicity risks of the selected compounds were assessed, and the predicted values of three compounds (LTS0262854, LTS0241035, and LTS0033598) were found to be within an acceptable range. Moreover, the docking studies were supported by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. MD simulations showed that these compounds were stable as potent inhibitors inside the protein binding region. The findings of this study may help develop safe and efficient antileprosy medications, addressing the urgent demand for advanced leprosy care and treatment.https://doi.org/10.1515/chem-2025-0145mycobacterium lepraefolp proteindockingadmetmd simulation
spellingShingle Alanzi Abdullah R.
Alharbi Hattan A.
Evaluation of natural compounds as folate biosynthesis inhibitors in Mycobacterium leprae using docking, ADMET analysis, and molecular dynamics simulation
Open Chemistry
mycobacterium leprae
folp protein
docking
admet
md simulation
title Evaluation of natural compounds as folate biosynthesis inhibitors in Mycobacterium leprae using docking, ADMET analysis, and molecular dynamics simulation
title_full Evaluation of natural compounds as folate biosynthesis inhibitors in Mycobacterium leprae using docking, ADMET analysis, and molecular dynamics simulation
title_fullStr Evaluation of natural compounds as folate biosynthesis inhibitors in Mycobacterium leprae using docking, ADMET analysis, and molecular dynamics simulation
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of natural compounds as folate biosynthesis inhibitors in Mycobacterium leprae using docking, ADMET analysis, and molecular dynamics simulation
title_short Evaluation of natural compounds as folate biosynthesis inhibitors in Mycobacterium leprae using docking, ADMET analysis, and molecular dynamics simulation
title_sort evaluation of natural compounds as folate biosynthesis inhibitors in mycobacterium leprae using docking admet analysis and molecular dynamics simulation
topic mycobacterium leprae
folp protein
docking
admet
md simulation
url https://doi.org/10.1515/chem-2025-0145
work_keys_str_mv AT alanziabdullahr evaluationofnaturalcompoundsasfolatebiosynthesisinhibitorsinmycobacteriumlepraeusingdockingadmetanalysisandmoleculardynamicssimulation
AT alharbihattana evaluationofnaturalcompoundsasfolatebiosynthesisinhibitorsinmycobacteriumlepraeusingdockingadmetanalysisandmoleculardynamicssimulation