Molecular docking studies to identify secondary metabolites present in Ashwagandharishta and their effectiveness towards memory related disorders

Abstract

Ashwagandharishta is a famous Ayurveda medicine (in Asian countries) that is used to treat psychiatric conditions, dullness, memory related diseases, anxiety, schizophrenia sluggishness, epilepsy, depression and etc. Memory defects are closely allied with imperfect cholinergic neurotransmission. Repairing mechanisms for theses impaired processes afford promising treatment strategies for these kinds of disorders. Alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is a sub type of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor which has been recognized as one of the most useful drug target for the treatment of nervous system associated disorders. Molecular docking analyses have been carried out to detect any possible secondary metabolites present in Ashwagandharishta that could act as agonists of alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. According these computational findings, it has been found that two phytochemicals; anaferine and anahygrine exhibit promising agonistic activity towards the receptor. Thus anaferine and anahygrine have high possibility to serve as alpha-7nAChR agonists which demonstrate potential drug action towards memory related disorders.