In silico Study of Ruminant Feed Wafer Formulation with Empon-Empon as Health Support Food

Abstract

The innovation of feed wafer formulation represents a promising strategy to enhance nutritional efficiency and promote sustainability within the livestock sector. Spices, classified as herbal plants, have long been utilized in traditional Indonesian medicine. Empon-empon, a traditional herbal mixture, typically comprises various rhizomes such as turmeric (Curcuma longa), aromatic ginger (Kaempferia galanga), and temulawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza). The bioactive compounds contained in these plants possess well-documented antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities, and are anticipated to support the health and productivity of ruminant animals. This study employed molecular docking analysis to assess the interactions between bioactive constituents from these three rhizomes and specific target proteins involved in ruminant physiological processes. The selected compounds were identified based on previous GC-MS analyses, and their three-dimensional structures were retrieved from the PubChem database (https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/). The structural data for the target proteins were obtained from the RCSB Protein Data Bank (https://www.rcsb.org/). Furthermore, the drug-likeness of the compounds was evaluated according to Lipinski’s Rule of Five. Among the tested compounds, naringenin and dihydrocurcumin—both derived from Curcuma species— demonstrated the strongest binding affinities, each recording a value of −10.00 kcal/mol against the Testis-Specific Androgen Binding Protein and the Glucagon Receptor. Additionally, Bis-Demethoxycurcumin, a compound isolated from turmeric, exhibited a binding affinity of −9.2 kcal/mol with Cathepsin L protein. These high binding affinities suggest that the compounds have significant potential as inhibitors of key proteins, thereby offering long-term benefits for livestock health through modulation of immune responses, metabolic pathways, and reproductive functions.