In Silico Analysis of Astaxanthin and Ellagic Acid as Inhibitors of UV Induced MAPK Pathway in Melanoma Carcinogenesis

Abstract

Prolonged exposure to UV radiation activates the protein kinases and leads to photoaging, cell damage, DNA damage, and skin cancers. These effects can be reduced when the activation of these protein kinases is inhibited. In silico studies are carried out to test the potential of Astaxanthin and ellagic acid in inhibiting the UV-mediated melanoma carcinogenesis pathway. The protein kinase targets of UV-induced MAPK pathway are selected and docked with Astaxanthin and ellagic acid using AutoDock Vina software. These results will be compared with two standard drugs, Luteolin and Taxifolin, following the same docking procedures. The binding energies of Astaxanthin and ellagic are compared with standard drugs. With certain specific protein kinase targets, both astaxanthin and ellagic acid showed greater affinity than the standard drugs, while in some cases, ellagic acid alone showed greater affinity, and in others, the affinity was less than equal to the standard drugs. The inhibition constant values of Astaxanthin and ellagic acid are like that of standard drugs. This study confirms that Astaxanthin and ellagic acid have the potential to inhibit the UV-induced MAPK pathway in melanoma carcinogenesis as protein kinase inhibitors.