Targeting matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) in prostate cancer: a computational study on natural product-derived novel potential inhibitors

Abstract Background Prostate cancer is one of the prime causes of death in men worldwide; the number of patients has increased every year despite significant efforts and outlay in the research of prostate cancer. Identifying new natural targets for effective prostate cancer treatment remains a major...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Vipendra Kumar Singh, Naina Rajak, Prashant Kumar Gupta, Arun Kumar Mahapatra, Ankit Kumar Singh, Rajanish Giri, Neha Garg
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-07-01
Series:Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s43094-025-00838-y
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849402702850686976
author Vipendra Kumar Singh
Naina Rajak
Prashant Kumar Gupta
Arun Kumar Mahapatra
Ankit Kumar Singh
Rajanish Giri
Neha Garg
author_facet Vipendra Kumar Singh
Naina Rajak
Prashant Kumar Gupta
Arun Kumar Mahapatra
Ankit Kumar Singh
Rajanish Giri
Neha Garg
author_sort Vipendra Kumar Singh
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Prostate cancer is one of the prime causes of death in men worldwide; the number of patients has increased every year despite significant efforts and outlay in the research of prostate cancer. Identifying new natural targets for effective prostate cancer treatment remains a major challenge in contemporary research. Natural products may provide an excellent source for drug development against prostate cancer. The DisGeNET and GeneCards databases were used to identify the anti-cancer proteins involved in prostate cancer. Furthermore, the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins database was utilized to identify the hub genes. The hub genes were processed using the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis database to get the difference in transcriptional expression between prostate cancer tissue and normal tissue. The 3D structures of selected targets were acquired from the protein data bank, and molecular docking was carried out. Higher expression of hub genes such as matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) was significantly linked with overall and progression-free survival in prostate cancer patients. Finally, the 200 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was performed to check the stable interaction of compounds with the MMP9. Results Co-expression investigation demonstrates that identified hub genes play a crucial role in prostate cancer and are controlled by many miRNAs. Molecular docking studies demonstrated that D-Galacturonic acid, glycerides, C14-18 showed better docking scores (− 8.0) with targeted MMP9 protein. MD simulation showed a stable interaction of bioactive compounds, such as D-Galacturonic acid, glycerides, C14-18 with the MMP9 protein. Conclusions The present study highlights that bioactive compounds could be an effective anti-cancer drug against MMP9 in prostate cancer and can be further validated using different preclinical studies. Graphical abstract
format Article
id doaj-art-defce076d4a14c628972500f1f823cdd
institution Kabale University
issn 2314-7253
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher SpringerOpen
record_format Article
series Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
spelling doaj-art-defce076d4a14c628972500f1f823cdd2025-08-20T03:37:28ZengSpringerOpenFuture Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences2314-72532025-07-0111112210.1186/s43094-025-00838-yTargeting matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) in prostate cancer: a computational study on natural product-derived novel potential inhibitorsVipendra Kumar Singh0Naina Rajak1Prashant Kumar Gupta2Arun Kumar Mahapatra3Ankit Kumar Singh4Rajanish Giri5Neha Garg6School of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology MandiDepartment of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Ayurveda, Banaras Hindu UniversityAyurinformatics Laboratory, All India Institute of AyurvedaAyurinformatics Laboratory, All India Institute of AyurvedaUniversity Department of Botany, Lalit Narayan Mithila UniversitySchool of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology MandiDepartment of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Ayurveda, Banaras Hindu UniversityAbstract Background Prostate cancer is one of the prime causes of death in men worldwide; the number of patients has increased every year despite significant efforts and outlay in the research of prostate cancer. Identifying new natural targets for effective prostate cancer treatment remains a major challenge in contemporary research. Natural products may provide an excellent source for drug development against prostate cancer. The DisGeNET and GeneCards databases were used to identify the anti-cancer proteins involved in prostate cancer. Furthermore, the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins database was utilized to identify the hub genes. The hub genes were processed using the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis database to get the difference in transcriptional expression between prostate cancer tissue and normal tissue. The 3D structures of selected targets were acquired from the protein data bank, and molecular docking was carried out. Higher expression of hub genes such as matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) was significantly linked with overall and progression-free survival in prostate cancer patients. Finally, the 200 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was performed to check the stable interaction of compounds with the MMP9. Results Co-expression investigation demonstrates that identified hub genes play a crucial role in prostate cancer and are controlled by many miRNAs. Molecular docking studies demonstrated that D-Galacturonic acid, glycerides, C14-18 showed better docking scores (− 8.0) with targeted MMP9 protein. MD simulation showed a stable interaction of bioactive compounds, such as D-Galacturonic acid, glycerides, C14-18 with the MMP9 protein. Conclusions The present study highlights that bioactive compounds could be an effective anti-cancer drug against MMP9 in prostate cancer and can be further validated using different preclinical studies. Graphical abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s43094-025-00838-yGEPIAHibiscus esculentus (L.)Molecular dockingMolecular dynamics (MD) simulationNatural compoundsNetwork pharmacology
spellingShingle Vipendra Kumar Singh
Naina Rajak
Prashant Kumar Gupta
Arun Kumar Mahapatra
Ankit Kumar Singh
Rajanish Giri
Neha Garg
Targeting matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) in prostate cancer: a computational study on natural product-derived novel potential inhibitors
Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
GEPIA
Hibiscus esculentus (L.)
Molecular docking
Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation
Natural compounds
Network pharmacology
title Targeting matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) in prostate cancer: a computational study on natural product-derived novel potential inhibitors
title_full Targeting matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) in prostate cancer: a computational study on natural product-derived novel potential inhibitors
title_fullStr Targeting matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) in prostate cancer: a computational study on natural product-derived novel potential inhibitors
title_full_unstemmed Targeting matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) in prostate cancer: a computational study on natural product-derived novel potential inhibitors
title_short Targeting matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) in prostate cancer: a computational study on natural product-derived novel potential inhibitors
title_sort targeting matrix metalloproteinase 9 mmp9 in prostate cancer a computational study on natural product derived novel potential inhibitors
topic GEPIA
Hibiscus esculentus (L.)
Molecular docking
Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation
Natural compounds
Network pharmacology
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s43094-025-00838-y
work_keys_str_mv AT vipendrakumarsingh targetingmatrixmetalloproteinase9mmp9inprostatecanceracomputationalstudyonnaturalproductderivednovelpotentialinhibitors
AT nainarajak targetingmatrixmetalloproteinase9mmp9inprostatecanceracomputationalstudyonnaturalproductderivednovelpotentialinhibitors
AT prashantkumargupta targetingmatrixmetalloproteinase9mmp9inprostatecanceracomputationalstudyonnaturalproductderivednovelpotentialinhibitors
AT arunkumarmahapatra targetingmatrixmetalloproteinase9mmp9inprostatecanceracomputationalstudyonnaturalproductderivednovelpotentialinhibitors
AT ankitkumarsingh targetingmatrixmetalloproteinase9mmp9inprostatecanceracomputationalstudyonnaturalproductderivednovelpotentialinhibitors
AT rajanishgiri targetingmatrixmetalloproteinase9mmp9inprostatecanceracomputationalstudyonnaturalproductderivednovelpotentialinhibitors
AT nehagarg targetingmatrixmetalloproteinase9mmp9inprostatecanceracomputationalstudyonnaturalproductderivednovelpotentialinhibitors