Article

In silico Design and Molecular Docking Evaluation of Phenothiazine Derivatives as Selective Celecoxib Bound to S121P Murine COX-2 Inhibitors for Targeted Therapy of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Mayuri Girish Dharam1, Rohit Jaysing Bhor1★, Mahesh Hari Kolhe1, Mayuri Rajesh Bhoknal2, Pratibha Shankar Jadhav2★ Corresponding author

  1. 1Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pravara Rural College of Pharmacy, Pravaranagar, Rahata, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, INDIA.
  2. 2Department of QA, Pravara Rural College of Pharmacy, Pravaranagar, Rahata, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, INDIA.

CORRESPONDENCE

Rohit Jaysing Bhor

Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pravara Rural College of Pharmacy, Pravaranagar, Rahata, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, INDIA.

rohit.bhor69@gmail.com

Received: 04-02-2026; Revised: 18-03-2026; Accepted: 28-04-2026.

Volume 15, Issue 1 · pp. 173–192 · PUBLISHED 2026 · DOI: 10.5530/ajbls.20260133

View on AJBLS original site ↗

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by dysregulated immune responses and excessive production of pro-inflammatory mediators. Despite advancements in therapeutic strategies, current treatments are often associated with limitations such as adverse effects, high cost, and reduced long-term efficacy. Therefore, the identification of novel, safe, and effective therapeutic agents remains a significant challenge. Materials and Methods: In the present study, a series of phenothiazine-based derivatives (MD-1 to MD-12) were designed and evaluated using an integrated in silico approach. The crystal structure of Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) (PDB ID: 5JW1) was selected as the target protein due to its critical role in mediating inflammatory responses. Molecular docking analysis was performed to assess the binding affinity and interaction patterns of the designed compounds within the active site of COX-2. Results: The docking results revealed that several derivatives, particularly MD-5, MD-6, MD-7, and MD-8, exhibited strong binding affinities with docking scores ranging from −10.0 to −10.4 kcal/mol, along with stable hydrogen bonding, electrostatic, and hydrophobic interactions. Furthermore, physicochemical properties, pharmacokinetic behavior, and drug-likeness of the compounds were evaluated using established computational tools. Most derivatives demonstrated favorable oral bioavailability, acceptable lipophilicity, optimal topological polar surface area, and compliance with Lipinski’s rule of five. ADME analysis indicated high gastrointestinal absorption and minimal blood-brain barrier permeability, suggesting reduced central nervous system side effects. Conclusion: These compounds may serve as potential lead molecules for further experimental validation and development of targeted therapies for IBD.

KEYWORDS

Open in new tab

REFERENCES

As published

Showing references and in-text citations exactly as published.

    Cite this article

    SELECT FORMAT

    Dharam, M. G., Bhor, R. J., Kolhe, M. H., Bhoknal, M. R., & Jadhav, P. S. (2026). In silico Design and Molecular Docking Evaluation of Phenothiazine Derivatives as Selective Celecoxib Bound to S121P Murine COX-2 Inhibitors for Targeted Therapy of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Asian Journal of Biological and Life sciences, 15(1), 173–192. https://doi.org/10.5530/ajbls.20260133