A hybrid platform featuring nanomagnetic ligand fishing for discovering COX-2 selective inhibitors from aerial part of Saussurea laniceps Hand.-Mazz. (10th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Qilei; Zhu, Lin; Yip, Ka Man; Tang, Yancheng; Liu, Yi; Jiang, Tao; Zhang, Jianye; Zhao, Zhongzhen; Yi, Tao; Chen, Hubiao
• Is Part Of: Journal of ethnopharmacology. Volume 271(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-05-10
• Subjects: Saussurea laniceps -- Drug discovery -- Cyclooxygenase-2 -- Arthritis -- Ligand fishing -- Magnetic nanoparticles; Scopoletin (PubChem CID: 5280460) -- Syringin (PubChem CID: 5316860) -- Celecoxib (PubChem CID: 2662) -- Chlorogenic acid (PubChem CID: 1794427) -- Umbelliferone (PubChem CID: 5281426); Ethnopharmacology -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosy -- Periodicals; Herbs -- Periodicals; Herbs -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosy -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosie -- Périodiques; Herbes -- Périodiques; 615.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.113849
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0378-8741

Abstract

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Saussurea laniceps Hand.-Mazz. (Compositae) is a representative "snow lotus" herb well known in Chinese folk medicine to treat inflammation-related diseases such as arthritis. S. laniceps (SL) shows anti-inflammatory and analgesic potencies and contains various constituents potentially with cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) selective inhibition. The herb is a valuable source of natural alternatives to synthetic COX-2 selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, a common medication for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) reported with serious cardiovascular side effects. Aim of the study: Based on an innovative drug screening platform, this study aimed to discover safe, effective COX-2 selective inhibitors from SL. Materials and methods: An enzyme-anchored nanomagnetic fishing assay was developed to separate COX-2 ligands from SL. Cell and animal models of cardiomyocytes, lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages, rat adjuvant-induced arthritis, and anterior cruciate ligament transection-induced OA rats, were adopted to screen the single/combined ligands regarding toxicity and bioactivity levels. Molecular docking was employed to unravel binding mechanisms of the ligands towards COX-1 and COX-2. Results: Four COX-2 selective compounds were separated from SL using optimized COX-2-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles. All the four ligands were proved with evidently lower cardiotoxicity both in vitro and in vivo than celecoxib, a known COX-2 selective inhibitor. Two ligands, scopoletin and syringin, exhibited potent anti-arthritic activities in rat models of RA and OA by alleviating clinical statuses, immune responses, and joint pathological features; their optimum combination ratio was discovered with stronger remedial effects on rat OA than single administrations. The COX-1/2 binding modes of the two phytochemicals contributed to explain their cardiac safety and therapeutic performances. Conclusions: The screened chemicals are promising to be developed as COX-2 selective inhibitors as part of treating RA and OA. The hybrid strategy for discovering therapeutic agents from SL is shown here to be efficient; it should be equally valuable for finding other active chemicals in other natural sources. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: A multi-technique platform established for functional natural product discovery. COX-2–MNPs applied to find anti-COX-2 agents from Saussurea laniceps. Cardiac histological and anti-arthritic profile study of screened phytochemicals. Unraveling the COX-1/2 binding mechanisms of scopoletin and syringin.