Potential of polyether ionophore compounds as antimalarials through inhibition on Plasmodium falciparum glutathione S-transferase by molecular docking studies

Context: Malaria is still a serious global health problem due to the development of drug resistance. It is necessary to find new drugs with renewable mechanisms that are effective in killing parasites. Our previous research has analyzed more than one compound of polyether ionophore group in ethyl acetate Streptomyces hygroscopicus subsp. hygroscopicus extract. Polyether ionophore is known to have a similar mechanism of action to chloroquine which is potent in inhibiting Plasmodium falciparum glutathione S-transferase (PfGST). Aims: To evaluate the potential effect of polyether ionophore toward PfGST as a target protein through molecular docking. Methods: PfGST was obtained from Protein Data Bank. Test ligands (polyether ionophore) and control ligands (chloroquine) were obtained from PubChem. Pharmacokinetic analysis was done using SwissADME, molecular docking using PyRx 0.9, visualization using LigPlot and PyMOL, and molecular dynamics using YASARA for the best ligand activity. Results: Lenoremycin had the highest binding affinity to PfGST (-8.53 kcal/mol) among other polyether ionophores, and nigericin had the best residue bonding with hydrophobic and hydrogen with a binding affinity of -8.25 kcal/mol compared to chloroquine complex in molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation. Conclusions: Polyether ionophore could serve as an antimalarial agent better than chloroquine, with nigericin as the best compound candidate in inhibiting PfGST compared to other polyether ionophores.