Receptor interactions of constituents of Zingiber officinalis and Solanum lycopersicum on COX

Abstract

Cyclooxygenases (COX)-1 and COX-2 are the targets of widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and are essential for such physiological processes as maintenance of the gastrointestinal tract, renal function and fever. COX-1 is expressed constitutively in all tissues, but COX-2 is induced specifically during inflammatory, degenerative, and neoplastic processes. In vitro investigations of ginger (Zingiber officinalis Roscoe) preparations and some isolated gingerol-related compounds have shown anti-inflammatory effects of ginger including inhibition of COX. Also, Microglia plays an important role in the immune defense in the central nervous system. Activation of microglia leads to the production of excessive inflammatory molecules and deleterious consequences, including neuronal death. Lycopene, one of the major carotenoids present in tomatoes, has been shown to exert antioxidant properties and to inhibit cancer cell proliferation. It was investigated the signaling pathways involved in lycopene-inhibited expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. Interactions of diclofenac, Gingerol and lycopene were studied on COX-2 receptor by docking them on COX-2 with the help of Molecular Operating Environment software and interactions and receptor binding is reported here.