Analysis of the Bioactive Compounds from Carica papaya in the Management of Psoriasis using Computational Techniques

Abstract

Psoriasis is a persistent and mysterious autoimmune skin condition that affects 2-3% of the world’s population. Currently, topical therapies, light therapy, and systemic drugs are the three main forms of treatment used to lessen inflammation and skin irritation/itching. However, all these treatments are only used to manage the disease each time it surfaces. Therefore, the main target of this work is to search for a safer and more effective remedy for psoriasis from the reservoir of phytochemicals present in Carica papaya via in silico studies due to its anti-psoriatic and anti-inflammatory properties. Reported phytochemicals isolated from Carica papaya were subjected to computational simulations using the PyRx docking tool and were docked against Janus Kinase 1 (JAK1) and Tumor necrosis factor \aplha (TNF\aplha) target receptors. The results obtained were visualized using PyMol, and Biovia 2019. Analysis of the results identified both Chlorogenic acid and Coumaroylquinic-acid with docking scores (-8.6 kcal/mol and -7.9 kcal/mol) respectively as potential inhibitors for the JAK1 receptor. The identified compounds also possessed excellent ADMET, drug-likeness, bioactivity, and activity spectra for substances (PASS) prediction properties. Their binding mode and the molecular interactions with the targets also affirmed their potency. In comparison with the standards (Methotrexate and Cyclosporine), Chlorogenic acid and Coumaroylquinic-acid have better ADMET properties, binding affinities, drug-likeness, PASS properties, bioactivities, oral bioavailability, binding mechanism, and interactions with the active site of the target receptor and are hereby recommended for further analysis towards the development of a new therapeutic agent for psoriasis treatment and management.