Potential anticoagulant mechanism of curdione: Enhancing thrombin inhibition by binding to AT-Ⅲ 's D-helix region.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Curcuma wenyujin was first recorded in the Tang Dynasty's Xinxiu Bencao and has been traditionally used to treat blood stasis syndrome. Its active component curdione exhibits antiplatelet effects, though its anticoagulant mechanisms remain unclear and require further investigation.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the anticoagulant activity of curdione, identify potential targets through integrated screening, and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

An acute blood stasis rat model was induced by ice bath stimulation and adrenaline administration. Hemorheological parameters were measured using a hemorheology analyzer, while coagulation function was evaluated using an automated coagulation analyzer. Label-free quantitative proteomics and network pharmacology identified curdione's potential anticoagulant targets. The interaction between curdione and antithrombin Ⅲ (AT-Ⅲ) was confirmed by molecular docking, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot analysis, cell thermal shift assay (CETSA), and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) techniques. Site-directed AT-Ⅲ mutagenesis integrated with SPR analysis elucidated the anticoagulant mechanism of curdione.

RESULTS

Curdione significantly reduced blood and plasma viscosity, prolonged prothrombin time (PT) by approximately 30 %, and inhibited coagulation factors Ⅱ, Ⅶ, Ⅸ, and X, whilst simultaneously enhancing AT-Ⅲ activity in rats with blood stasis. Thrombin and AT-Ⅲ were identified as the key targets, indicating that curdione potentiates AT-Ⅲ-mediated thrombin inhibition via direct binding. Molecular docking and CETSA confirmed their interaction. SPR analysis confirmed curdione binds AT-III's D-Helix (Asn77, Lys157, Arg161, Arg164) with high affinity (4.52E-07 M), potently enhancing thrombin inhibition.

CONCLUSION

Curdione binds the AT-III D-Helix, enhancing thrombin inhibition and demonstrating potential for treating thromboembolic disorders.