Research Article

Molecular Docking and ADMET Analysis of Selected Polyphenols Targeting Acetylcholinesterase: An In Silico Approach

Volume: 9 Number: 1 April 16, 2026
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Molecular Docking and ADMET Analysis of Selected Polyphenols Targeting Acetylcholinesterase: An In Silico Approach

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial, progressive neurodegenerative disorder, primarily caused by disorders in the cholinergic system. Inhibition of the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme forms the basis of current symptomatic treatment. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential inhibitory effects of several different polyphenols, whose biological activities are known in the literature, on AChE using in silico methods. In this study, molecular docking simulations were performed using the crystal structure of the AChE enzyme (PDB code: 4EY7) and the structures of selected natural compounds and the reference drug donepezil. The binding affinities (kcal/mol) and binding modes of the compounds to the enzyme's active site were determined using AutoDock Vina software. In addition, in silico ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Elimination, Toxicity) analyses were performed using ADMETlab 3.0 to predict the drug similarity, pharmacokinetic, and toxicological profiles of these compounds. Molecular docking analyses revealed that the reference drug donepezil showed the highest binding affinity (-11.9 kcal/mol), followed by naturally occurring compounds such as rosmarinic acid (-10.5 kcal/mol) and apigenin (-10.4 kcal/mol). Structural analyses showed that all compounds with strong affinity, like donepezil, exhibited dual-site inhibitory behavior, interacting simultaneously with both the catalytic active site and the peripheral anionic site of AChE. ADMET analyses demonstrated that all compounds studied conformed to Lipinski's rule and possessed generally acceptable pharmacokinetic and toxicity profiles. The results indicate that the polyphenols studied, particularly rosmarinic acid and apigenin, are promising AChE inhibitor candidates in the treatment of AD, exhibiting high affinity and dual-site binding potential. These findings form the basis for in vitro and in vivo validation studies for the development of natural compounds.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

This study does not require ethical approval.

References

  1. Kim, J., H.J. Lee, and K.W. Lee, Naturally occurring phytochemicals for the prevention of Alzheimer's disease. J Neurochem, 2010. 112(6): p. 1415-30. 2. Kurban, M.G. and M. Şentürk, Kolinesteraz İnhibitörlerinin Alzheimer Hastalığı Tedavisindeki Rolü. Ağrı Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi, 2024. 2(1): p. 42-45. 3. Zhang, X.X., et al., The Epidemiology of Alzheimer's Disease Modifiable Risk Factors and Prevention. J Prev Alzheimers Dis, 2021. 8(3): p. 313-321. 4. Rostagno, A.A., Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci, 2022. 24(1). 5. Knopman, D.S., et al., Alzheimer disease. Nat Rev Dis Primers, 2021. 7(1): p. 33. 6. Swerdlow, R.H., Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Clin Interv Aging, 2007. 2(3): p. 347-59.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (Other), Biochemistry and Cell Biology (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

April 16, 2026

Submission Date

December 13, 2025

Acceptance Date

January 8, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 9 Number: 1

APA
Bektaş, İ., & Akmeşe, Ş. (2026). Molecular Docking and ADMET Analysis of Selected Polyphenols Targeting Acetylcholinesterase: An In Silico Approach. International Journal of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, 9(1), 37-47. https://doi.org/10.38001/ijlsb.1841666
AMA
1.Bektaş İ, Akmeşe Ş. Molecular Docking and ADMET Analysis of Selected Polyphenols Targeting Acetylcholinesterase: An In Silico Approach. Int. J. Life Sci. Biotechnol. 2026;9(1):37-47. doi:10.38001/ijlsb.1841666
Chicago
Bektaş, İbrahim, and Şükrü Akmeşe. 2026. “Molecular Docking and ADMET Analysis of Selected Polyphenols Targeting Acetylcholinesterase: An In Silico Approach”. International Journal of Life Sciences and Biotechnology 9 (1): 37-47. https://doi.org/10.38001/ijlsb.1841666.
EndNote
Bektaş İ, Akmeşe Ş (April 1, 2026) Molecular Docking and ADMET Analysis of Selected Polyphenols Targeting Acetylcholinesterase: An In Silico Approach. International Journal of Life Sciences and Biotechnology 9 1 37–47.
IEEE
[1]İ. Bektaş and Ş. Akmeşe, “Molecular Docking and ADMET Analysis of Selected Polyphenols Targeting Acetylcholinesterase: An In Silico Approach”, Int. J. Life Sci. Biotechnol., vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 37–47, Apr. 2026, doi: 10.38001/ijlsb.1841666.
ISNAD
Bektaş, İbrahim - Akmeşe, Şükrü. “Molecular Docking and ADMET Analysis of Selected Polyphenols Targeting Acetylcholinesterase: An In Silico Approach”. International Journal of Life Sciences and Biotechnology 9/1 (April 1, 2026): 37-47. https://doi.org/10.38001/ijlsb.1841666.
JAMA
1.Bektaş İ, Akmeşe Ş. Molecular Docking and ADMET Analysis of Selected Polyphenols Targeting Acetylcholinesterase: An In Silico Approach. Int. J. Life Sci. Biotechnol. 2026;9:37–47.
MLA
Bektaş, İbrahim, and Şükrü Akmeşe. “Molecular Docking and ADMET Analysis of Selected Polyphenols Targeting Acetylcholinesterase: An In Silico Approach”. International Journal of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, vol. 9, no. 1, Apr. 2026, pp. 37-47, doi:10.38001/ijlsb.1841666.
Vancouver
1.İbrahim Bektaş, Şükrü Akmeşe. Molecular Docking and ADMET Analysis of Selected Polyphenols Targeting Acetylcholinesterase: An In Silico Approach. Int. J. Life Sci. Biotechnol. 2026 Apr. 1;9(1):37-4. doi:10.38001/ijlsb.1841666



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