In vitro and in silico Approach to Determine the Molecular Mechanism of Action of Yashtimadhu Moola Churna (Root Powder of Glycyrrhiza glabra L.)

Background

Wearing spectacles due to refractive error has been a common thing now a days. Not only among geriatrics but also among paediatrics wearing spectacles due to refractive error has been increasing due to indulgence in strenuous activities in front of computer, mobile phones, television and video games.

Aim

With the increasing in this trend only spectacles wouldn’t solve the problem, we need medicines that improve the eyesight of common people. Yastimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) is one of the Drug that is mentioned in classical treatise that improves eyesight (chakshushya). Though it is indicated in eye disorder, the mechanism behind the plant is still unclear. Thus, so as to establish the property pharmacologically, in vitro and in silico analysis was performed.

Materials and Methods

Yastimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra) was procured from GMP certified pharmacy and followed by that ash value, Alcohol and Water-soluble extract, anti-oxidant activity and followed by plant related and diseases related targets were procured from databases and uploaded into the database to obtain overlapping targets of the two refractive errors i.e. astigmatism and myopia. With the common targets the further protein network, hub gene prediction was done. Followed by that KEGG pathway prediction the topological analysis was performed; degree layout was considered and molecular docking was done.

Results and Discussion

The basic physicochemical analysis results were within the limits of API, while the anti-oxidant activity gave IC₅₀ value of 137.86 µg/mL. A total of 467 plant targets and 808 targets related to astigmatism, 1451 targets related to myopia were uploaded into database and 26 overlapping targets related to astigmatism and 28 related to myopia was obtained. Followed by this when upon predicting top 10 hub genes yielded ESR1, HIF1A, TNF, CTNNB1 and IL6 as major targets in both the disease. While performing KEGG pathway analysis, pathways in cancer was common among both the disease. After topological analysis, once the docking was performed the binding affinity was calculated and it revealed that liquritin had the highest binding affinity of -9.3 kcal/mol towards ESR1.

Conclusion

Though the study has given primitively that Yastimadhu has role on the disease and improves eyesight further clinical evaluation is required to establish the study.