Lichen Power: A New Hope in Cervical Cancer Fight

Lichens, those unassuming organisms often seen clinging to trees and rocks, might hold a secret weapon in the battle against cervical cancer. Researchers have been exploring the potential of five compounds found in lichens, along with their hyaluronic acid (HA) partners, to target key proteins involved in cervical cancer. The study focused on how well these lichen compounds and their HA conjugates could bind to five crucial cancer targets. The results showed that these compounds had docking scores ranging from -5. 5 to -10. 1 kcal/mol. For comparison, a commonly used drug, topotecan, had scores between -6. 4 and -8. 5 kcal/mol. This means that some of these lichen compounds might be just as good, if not better, at targeting cancer cells. One standout was the HA-evernic acid combo, which showed the strongest binding to a protein called BCL-2. This binding was so strong that it formed two hydrogen bonds and four hydrophobic interactions. Another notable performer was the HA-salazinic acid conjugate, which showed a high affinity for a protein called histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6). The top-performing compounds—fumarprotocetraric acid, salazinic acid, topotecan, and their HA conjugates—were then put through more tests. These tests looked at how well the compounds could be absorbed by the body, how they interacted with other drugs, and their potential toxicity. The HA-salazinic acid conjugate, in particular, showed great promise with high absorption rates and low toxicity. To understand how these compounds work at a molecular level, researchers used a method called density functional theory (DFT). This method showed that the HA conjugates of fumarprotocetraric acid and salazinic acid were more reactive than topotecan. This reactivity is important because it means these compounds could be more effective in targeting cancer cells. Molecular dynamics simulations further confirmed the stability of the HA-salazinic acid-HDAC6 and HA-evernic acid-BCL-2 complexes. These results suggest that these lichen compounds, when combined with HA, could be a powerful tool in fighting cervical cancer. While these findings are promising, more research is needed. Preclinical and clinical studies will help determine if these compounds are safe and effective for use in humans. If successful, lichen compounds could offer a new, natural approach to cervical cancer treatment.