Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2025, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (6): 176-187.doi: 10.11978/2025011CSTR: 32234.14.2025011

• Exploitation of Marine Resources • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Virtual screening of potential anti-osteoarthritic peptides from sea cucumber and their mechanisms based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and quantum chemistry calculation*

DUAN Ailing1,2(), LI Si1,2, ZHAO Xiangtan1,2, CHEN Hua2(), WAN Peng2, CHEN Deke2, CAI Bingna2, PAN Jianyu2()   

  1. 1 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    2 State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography/Guangdong Key Laboratory of Marine Materia Medica, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
  • Received:2025-01-15 Revised:2025-03-26 Online:2025-11-10 Published:2025-12-03
  • Contact: PAN Jianyu, email: ;CHEN Hua, email:
  • Supported by:
    Marine Economic Development Project of Guangdong(GDNRC[2024]49)

Abstract:

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease characterized by the progressive loss of articular cartilage and the destruction of joint structures. This study investigates the potential role of sea cucumber peptides in combating OA. Potential bioactive peptides from sea cucumber protein were identified through computer simulations of gastrointestinal digestion and online database predictions. Using network pharmacology, molecular docking, and quantum chemical calculations, a sea cucumber peptide candidate (phenylalanine-aspartic acid-proline-valine-isoleucine-glutamic acid-glutamic acid-tyrosine-histidine-asparagine-glycine-phenylalanine, FDPVIEEYHNGF) with strong anti-OA activity was virtually screened. Further analysis suggests that this peptide may alleviate OA by modulating the IL-17 and TNF signaling pathways, inhibiting inflammation, collagen degradation, and the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The sea cucumber peptide may form hydrogen bonds with MMP9 and IL-17RA, potential core targets for OA, thereby influencing the related signaling pathways, reducing inflammation, intervening in extracellular matrix remodeling, and mitigating collagen degradation. This study provides new insights into the application of sea cucumber peptides as functional food ingredients in the development of therapeutic foods for OA.

Key words: sea cucumber peptides, osteoarthritis, network pharmacology, molecular docking, quantum chemistry

CLC Number: 

  • R285