Evaluation of extra virgin olive oil compounds using computational methods: in vitro, ADMET, DFT, molecular docking and human gene network analysis study

Abstract

Abstract This study investigates the phenolic compounds (PC), volatile compounds (VC), and fatty acids (FA) of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) derived from the Turkish olive variety “Sarı Ulak”, along with ADMET, DFT, molecular docking, and gene network analyses of significant molecules identified within the EVOO. Chromatographic methods (GC-FID, HPLC) were employed to characterize FA, PC, and VC profiles, while quality parameters, antioxidant activities (TAC, ABTS, DPPH) were assessed via spectrophotometry. The analysis revealed a complex composition of 40 volatile compounds, with estragole, 7-hydroxyheptene-1, and 3-methoxycinnamaldehyde as the primary components. Hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, oleuropein, apigenin, ferulic acid, and vanillic acid emerged as main phenolic constituents, with hydroxytyrosol and apigenin exhibiting high bioavailability. Molecular docking highlighted oleuropein and pinoresinol as compounds with strong binding affinities, though only hydroxytyrosol, apigenin, and pinoresinol fully met Lipinski and other drug-likeness criteria. DFT analysis showed that oleuropein and pinoresinol have notable dipole moments, reflecting polar and asymmetrical structures. KEGG enrichment analysis further linked key molecules like oleuropein and apigenin with pathways related to lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis, underscoring their potential bioactivity and relevance in health-related applications.

Keywords

• EVOO
• Sarı Ulak
• ADMET
• DFT
• Molecular docking
• Gene network analysis