@article {1278, title = {Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Approaches of Astaxanthin (ATX) against Atherosclerosis}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {16}, year = {2024}, month = {June 2024}, pages = {626-637}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {626}, abstract = {

Background: Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease well known as the leading cause of Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs). Astaxanthin (ATX) is a reddish pigment that belongs to the family of xanthophylls, which are oxygenated derivatives of carotenoids. Aim: In this study, we aimed to investigate the targets and mechanisms involved in treating atherosclerosis using network pharmacology and molecular approaches. Materials and Methods: The genes targeted by ATX were predicted using Swiss Target Prediction, BATMAN-TCM, and Super-Pred databases, while genes associated with atherosclerosis were retrieved from DigSee, GAD, GeneCards, and OMIM databases. The interactions between ATX and atherosclerosis genes were identified through protein{\textendash}protein interaction analysis, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. Results: The results revealed a total of 240 ATX-related genes and 4,977 atherosclerosis-related genes, with 172 overlapping genes identified. Six core genes were obtained: SRC, AKT1, MAPK3, HDAC1, PIK3R1, and RXRA. These results were further validated through the molecular docking approach, where all six core targets exhibit low binding energy, suggesting strong binding affinity, with PIK3R1 having the best binding affinity among them. Conclusion: Our study provides novel insights into the potential application of ATX in the management of atherosclerosis.

}, keywords = {Astaxanthin, Atherosclerosis, Carotenoids, GO, KEGG, Network pharmacology}, doi = {10.5530/pres.16.3.74}, author = {Anis Zuhaida Mamnun Barizi and Ain Nabila Syahira Shamsol Azman and Muhamad Fikri Shazlan Saad and Muhammad Nazrul Hakim Abdullah and Vuanghao Lim and Yoke Keong Yong} } @article {327, title = {Evaluation of Antioxidant, Hypolipidemic, and Antiatherogenic Property of Lycopene and Astaxanthin in Atherosclerosis-induced Rats}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {9}, year = {2017}, month = {April 2017}, pages = {161-167}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {161}, abstract = {

Background: Atherosclerosis is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. Antioxidants play a major role in prophylaxis and prevention of progression and complications of atherosclerosis. Objective: In this study, we are evaluating the antiatherosclerotic effect of two antioxidants such as astaxanthin and lycopene. Materials and Methods: After acclimatization, 24 male SD rats, 8{\textendash}10 weeks old, 150 {\textpm} 10 g, maintained as per CPCSEA guidelines were divided into four groups of six rats each. Baseline values of weight lipid profile and 2-Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS) assay were taken. All the rats were fed with high cholesterol diet (HCD). HCD only, HCD + atorvastatin (50 mg/kg), HCD + lycopene (50 mg/kg), and HCD + astaxanthin (50 mg/kg) were given to control, standard, lycopene, and astaxanthin groups, respectively, through oral gavage for 45 days. The rats were sacrificed at the end of the study, blood sample collected from aorta, and then aorta was dissected for histopathology. Results: The lipid profile showed lycopene and astaxanthin decreased total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), very LDL-C, and triglycerides and increased high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level significantly (P \< 0.05) compared to the control but less than atorvastatin. The TBARS value of lycopene was significantly lower compared to HCD and atorvastatin groups, whereas astaxanthin was significantly less than HCD group only. The histopathology showed only Type I lesions, no naked fatty streaks, few foam cells in lycopene, and astaxanthin groups compared to control where we observed Type II and III lesions, visible fatty streaks and many foam cells with intimal thickening in HCD group. Conclusion: In this study, lycopene and astaxanthin showed antioxidant, antihyperlipidemic, and antiatherosclerotic property. This warrants further study for including them in the treatment of atherosclerosis.

}, keywords = {Antioxidant, Astaxanthin, Atherosclerosis, Hypercholesterolemia, Lycopene}, doi = {10.4103/0974-8490.204654}, author = {Rajesh Kumar and Kartik Janardan Salwe and Manimekalai Kumarappan} }