{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,22]],"date-time":"2026-10-22T20:04:41Z","timestamp":1792699481323,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"20","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,21]],"date-time":"2025-10-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1761004800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100002848","name":"Agencia Nacional de Investigaci\u00f3n y Desarrollo","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["1200610"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["1200610"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100002848","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Melicoccus bijugatus (Guinep) is traditionally consumed in the Caribbean and Latin America for its health benefits, yet its cardiovascular effects remain underexplored. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of Guinep by combining experimental and computational approaches. The biological evaluation of the Guinep extract was conducted by assessing the effects of modulating Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE), Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor (AT1R), and Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels (VGCC) on vascular reactivity. Metabolites previously identified by high-resolution UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap mass spectrometry were further examined using in silico tools, including ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity) prediction (pkCSM), biological activity prediction (PASS server), and molecular docking (AutoDock Vina) against cardiovascular targets (ACE: PDB 1O86, AT1R: PDB 4ZUD, VGCC: PDB 8WE8). Docking results revealed that phytochemicals such as isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside and 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid displayed strong binding affinities with ACE (\u22129.3 and \u22128.5 kcal\/mol), AT1R (\u22128.2 and \u22127.6 kcal\/mol), and VGCC (\u22128.6 and \u22127.6 kcal\/mol), in several cases matching or surpassing standard antihypertensive drugs. Key hydrogen bond interactions closely resembled those of reference ligands, suggesting pharmacophoric similarity. ADMET modeling confirmed favorable pharmacokinetic profiles and low predicted toxicity, supporting their drug-like potential. These findings are consistent with in vivo evidence of Guinep\u2019s hypotensive, antioxidant, and vasodilatory properties. Vascular relaxation of Guinep extract was predominantly mediated by blockade of VGCC (53%) and AT1R (48%), while ACE inhibition accounted for 24%. Collectively, the results demonstrate that Guinep contains bioactive phytochemicals with multitarget cardiovascular activity, particularly as ACE, AT1R, and VGCC modulators. This study validates the traditional use of Guinep.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms262010228","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,21]],"date-time":"2025-10-21T13:42:03Z","timestamp":1761054123000},"page":"10228","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Integrating Experimental and Computational Approaches to Cardioprotection: Vascular Reactivity, Molecular Docking, and ADMET Modeling of Melicoccus bijugatus (Guinep)"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"26","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-6577-507X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Keaton","family":"Logan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Technology, Caribbean Maritime University, Main Campus, Palisadoes Park, Norman Manley Highway, Kingston P.O. Box 8081, Jamaica"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7997-9295","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Javier","family":"Palacios","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Carrera de Qu\u00edmica y Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1110939, Chile"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-3583-2126","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sussan","family":"Lopez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Carrera de Qu\u00edmica y Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1110939, Chile"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Wesley","family":"Gray","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Environmental Toxicology, Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA 70807, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7092-9382","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Chukwuemeka R.","family":"Nwokocha","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Basic Medical Sciences Physiology Section, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"266","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fitote.2011.11.018","article-title":"The Potential Health Effects of Melicoccus bijugatus Jacq. 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