Chemical Constituents from Artemisia annua and Vitex agnus-castus as New Aromatase Inhibitors: In-vitro and In-silico Studies

Abstract. Aromatase inhibitors are important in certain cancers such as breast cancer in postmenopausal women. In this study, eight constituents from Artemisia annua L. and Vitex agnus-castus L. were isolated and evaluated for their aromatase inhibitory activity using in-vitro fluorimetric assay. All tested compounds possessed moderate to strong inhibitory activity with β-sitosterol and myricetin-3,7,4'-trimethyl ether  being the most active with IC50 values of 0.13 and 0.25 μM, respectively. Compounds were subjected to induced fit docking (IFD) where β-sitosterol, possessed comparable interaction patterns to the natural co-crystallized ligand androstenedione.  Furthermore, Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity (ADME&T)‎ properties of the compounds were evaluated revealing that all compounds' properties - except some of β- sitosterol related to solubility - lied within the acceptable range for human use, thereby considered as competent drug-like molecules. These findings could qualify β- sitosterol, myricetin-3,7,4'-trimethyl ether and domesticoside   as lead compounds for the development of new aromatase inhibitors.