ANDRA MARIA PĂUN*, S. TRÎMBIȚAȘ**^#, MARIA MERNEA*, SPERANȚA AVRAM*

https://www.doi.org/10.59277/RJB.2025.1.01

*University of Bucharest, Faculty of Biology, 91-95, Splaiul Independenței, Bucharest, R-050095, România

**National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 313, Splaiul Independenţei, Bucharest, R-060042, România

Strigolactones (SLs) are a class of plant hormones β-carotenoid-derived that are synthesized in the roots of plants. They govern plant growth, development, and interactions with the environment. The first SL was isolated in 1966. Their various functions make them viable agricultural targets, and understanding these molecules may assist with creating strategies to increase crop yields and sustainability. In recent years, there has been considerable interest in the potential applications of SLs in biomedicine, especially in cancer therapy, diabetes or inflammation. These complex roles are related to a significant structural diversity. So far, all biomedical literature data has been dedicated to the synthetic analogs of these phytohormones. The bioinformatic approach supports a better understanding of the complexity of SLs, leading to a better design of bioactive compounds. This study provides an efficient in silico approach to evaluate the pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and drug-like characteristics of both natural and synthetic SLs, delivering significant insight into their biomedical potential.   

Key words: Drug research, phytochemistry, ligand, biological targets, in silico

Corresponding author’s e-mail: trimbitassorin@hotmail.com