In Silico Study and Bioprospection of the Antibacterial and Antioxidant Effects of Flavone and Its Hydroxylated Derivatives

• Published in: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2017-05, Vol.22 (6), p.869
• Main Authors: Montenegro, Camila de Albuquerque, Gonçalves, Gregório Fernandes, Oliveira Filho, Abrahão Alves de, Lira, Andressa Brito, Cassiano, Thays Thyara Mendes, Lima, Natanael Teles Ramos de, Barbosa-Filho, José Maria, Diniz, Margareth de Fátima Formiga Melo, Pessôa, Hilzeth Luna Freire
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibacterial activity; Antihypertensives; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - chemistry; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Bacteria; Bioprospecting; Computational chemistry; Computer applications; Erythrocytes; Escherichia coli - drug effects; Flavones; Flavones - chemistry; Flavonoids; Flavonoids - chemistry; Flavonoids - pharmacology; Gram-negative bacteria; Gram-Negative Bacteria - drug effects; Gram-Positive Bacteria - drug effects; Hydrogen peroxide; Hydrogen Peroxide - chemistry; Hydrogen Peroxide - metabolism; Inflammation; Inhibitors; Internet; Membrane permeability; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Organic chemistry; Oxidation; Peroxidase; Pharmacology; Phenylhydrazines - chemistry; Protected species; Reactive oxygen species; Software; Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Strains (organisms)
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules22060869

Flavonoid compounds are widely used as natural protective species, which can act as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticoagulant, antihypertensive and antitumor agents. This study set out to investigate the probable pharmacological activities, along with the antibacterial and antioxidant effects, of flavone and its hydroxy derivatives: 3-hydroxyflavone, 5-hydroxyflavone and 6-hydroxyflavone. To do so, we investigated their pharmacological characteristics, using in silico tests that indicate likelihood of activity or inactivity, with the PASS online software, and the antimicrobial potential against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria was also analyzed, including bacteria of clinical importance. We also tested for oxidant and antioxidant potential in these molecules in the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and phenylhydrazine (Ph). The results revealed the following characteristics: pharmacological activities for the flavonoids as agonists of cell membrane integrity and as permeability inhibitors, as antagonists of anaphylatoxin receptors, as inhibitors of both kinase and peroxidase, and as having both antimutagenic capacity and vaso-protective potential. All of the flavonoids exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against Gram positive and Gram negative strains, with the flavones being bactericidal at 200 μg/mL for the strains of ATCC 8027, ATCC 25619 and 104; the other flavonoids revealed bacteriostatic action. The substances did not promote erythrocyte oxidation and behaved as sequestrators and antioxidants of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and phenylhydrazine (Ph). It was concluded that the analyzed compounds have various pharmacological activities in accordance with the predictions of PASS online, as their antibacterial and antioxidant activities were confirmed. The study also helps to consolidate the use of computational chemistry in silico tools to guide new drug search and discovery protocols.