Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41628199›Full record

ArticlePloS one2026

Discovery of a novel Keap1 inhibitor for neurodegeneration through virtual screening and molecular dynamics simulations.

Md Mazedul Hasan, Md Shaki Mostaid, Asim Kumar Bepari, Hasan Mahmud Reza, Murad Hossain

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Md Mazedul HasanDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8318-2463
Md Shaki MostaidDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9229-651X
Asim Kumar BepariDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5656-1833
Hasan Mahmud RezaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Murad HossainDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3680-6511

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Oxidative stress is a key feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. The Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)-nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway controls redox balance, and disrupting the Keap1-Nrf2 protein-protein interaction (PPI) has become a promising therapeutic approach. Marine natural products (MNPs), because of their structural diversity and bioactivity, are an underexplored source of potential neuroprotective compounds. This study aimed to identify novel marine-derived inhibitors of the Keap1-Nrf2 interaction using a comprehensive in silico pipeline. A total of 14,492 compounds from an open-access MNP database were virtually screened against the Keap1 Kelch domain through molecular docking. The top 1,329 candidates exhibited strong binding affinities, with several reaching scores comparable to the co-crystallized reference ligand L5F. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) profiling was employed to assess pharmacokinetic properties, brain penetration, and safety, leading to the identification of compound 145398-61-4 as the most promising hit. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations verified the structural stability of the Keap1-145398-61-4 complex, while binding free energy calculations indicated energetically favorable interactions. Additional validation using principal component analysis (PCA) and highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO) energy analysis further confirmed the stability of this interaction. Overall, our in silico study identified compound 145398-61-4 as a novel Keap1-Nrf2 inhibitor, highlighting its potential as a lead candidate for developing treatments for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis.

Indexed as

Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1Molecular Dynamics SimulationNeurodegenerative DiseasesNeuroprotective AgentsAnimalsDrug DiscoveryHumansMolecular Docking SimulationNF-E2-Related Factor 2Protein BindingKEAP1 protein, humanKelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1Neuroprotective AgentsNF-E2-Related Factor 2

Identifiers

PMID41628199
PMCPMC12863475

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.