﻿<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<ArticleSet>
  <Article>
    <Journal>
      <PublisherName>Hamadan University of Medical Sciences</PublisherName>
      <JournalTitle>Avicenna Journal of Medical Biochemistry</JournalTitle>
      <Issn>2345-4113</Issn>
      <Volume>13</Volume>
      <Issue>2</Issue>
      <PubDate PubStatus="ppublish">
        <Year>2025</Year>
        <Month>12</Month>
        <DAY>31</DAY>
      </PubDate>
    </Journal>
    <ArticleTitle>Evaluation of the Natural Triterpenoid β-amyrin as a Potential Androgen Receptor Antagonist in Prostate Cancer</ArticleTitle>
    <FirstPage>73</FirstPage>
    <LastPage>80</LastPage>
    <ELocationID EIdType="doi">10.34172/ajmb.2670</ELocationID>
    <Language>EN</Language>
    <AuthorList>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>Mohsen</FirstName>
        <LastName>Danaeifar</LastName>
        <Identifier Source="ORCID">https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1712-9922</Identifier>
      </Author>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>Lida</FirstName>
        <LastName>Ghaderi</LastName>
        <Identifier Source="ORCID">https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2264-3568</Identifier>
      </Author>
    </AuthorList>
    <PublicationType>Journal Article</PublicationType>
    <ArticleIdList>
      <ArticleId IdType="doi">10.34172/ajmb.2670</ArticleId>
    </ArticleIdList>
    <History>
      <PubDate PubStatus="received">
        <Year>2025</Year>
        <Month>04</Month>
        <Day>05</Day>
      </PubDate>
      <PubDate PubStatus="accepted">
        <Year>2025</Year>
        <Month>11</Month>
        <Day>28</Day>
      </PubDate>
    </History>
    <Abstract> Introduction: The androgen receptor (AR) is a critical therapeutic target in prostate cancer (PCa), underscoring the urgent need for novel inhibitors capable of overcoming resistance to current therapies. This study identifies the natural pentacyclic triterpenoid β-amyrin as a novel promising candidate AR antagonist through comprehensive in silico profiling. Methods: The chemical structure of β-amyrin was used to identify ethylestrenol as a structurally similar drug via GoDrugBank (similarity threshold&gt;0.8). The androgen receptor, identified as its target, was prepared for molecular docking. β-amyrin was docked into the AR ligand-binding site using AutoDock Vina, and the resulting interactions were analyzed using PLIP and LigPlot+. Binding stability was assessed through coarse-grained dynamics simulations using the CABSflex webserver. A ligand-based pharmacophore model was constructed from established AR inhibitors, and ADMET profiles were predicted using the ADMET.ai webserver. Results: Molecular docking revealed high-affinity binding of β-amyrin to the AR ligand-binding domain (ΔG=-6.97 kcal/mol), involving key interactions with residues required for antagonist activity, including a stabilizing hydrogen bond with GLN711. Coarse-grained dynamics simulations confirmed the exceptional structural stability of the β-amyrin-AR complex, revealing ligand-induced structural rigidity indicative of true antagonist behavior. Pharmacophore modeling demonstrated that the stereoelectronic features of β-amyrin align precisely with those of established AR inhibitors. Furthermore, in silico ADMET profiling further supported its drug-like potential, predicting favorable oral absorption and a promising safety profile with low risks of hepatotoxicity and genotoxicity. Conclusion: These multi-faceted computational findings provide robust evidence that β-amyrin represents a promising, naturally derived scaffold for the development of AR antagonists.  </Abstract>
    <ObjectList>
      <Object Type="keyword">
        <Param Name="value">β-amyrin</Param>
      </Object>
      <Object Type="keyword">
        <Param Name="value">Ethylestrenol</Param>
      </Object>
      <Object Type="keyword">
        <Param Name="value">Molecular docking</Param>
      </Object>
      <Object Type="keyword">
        <Param Name="value">Prostate cancer</Param>
      </Object>
    </ObjectList>
  </Article>
</ArticleSet>