Potential Therapeutic Target Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase-1B for Modulation of Insulin Resistance with Polyphenols and Its Quantitative Structure–Activity Relationship

The increase in the number of cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the complications associated with the side effects of chemical/synthetic drugs have raised concerns about the safety of the drugs. Hence, there is an urgent need to explore and identify natural bioactive compounds as alternative drugs. Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) functions as a negative regulator and is therefore considered as one of the key protein targets modulating insulin signaling and insulin resistance. This article deals with the screening of a database of polyphenols against PTP1B activity for the identification of a potential inhibitor. The research plan had two clear objectives. Under first objective, we conducted a quantitative structure–activity relationship analysis of flavonoids with PTP1B that revealed the strongest correlation (R² = 93.25%) between the number of aromatic bonds (naro) and inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) of PTP1B. The second objective emphasized the binding potential of the selected polyphenols against the activity of PTP1B using molecular docking, molecular dynamic (MD) simulation and free energy estimation. Among all the polyphenols, silydianin, a flavonolignan, was identified as a lead compound that possesses drug-likeness properties, has a higher negative binding energy of −7.235 kcal/mol and a pKd value of 5.2. The free energy-based binding affinity (ΔG) was estimated to be −7.02 kcal/mol. MD simulation revealed the stability of interacting residues (Gly183, Arg221, Thr263 and Asp265). The results demonstrated that the identified polyphenol, silydianin, could act as a promising natural PTP1B inhibitor that can modulate the insulin resistance.

Synthesis, structure and in vitro biological properties of a new copper(II) complex with 4-{[3-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]methyl}benzoic acid

The new copper(II) complex dichloridobis(4-{[3-(pyridin-2-yl-κN)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl-κN²]methyl}benzoic acid)copper(II) methanol sesquisolvate hemihydrate, [CuCl₂L₂]·1.5CH₃OH·0.5H₂O, (1), has been synthesized from CuCl₂·2H₂O and the ligand 4-{[3-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]methyl}benzoic acid (L, C₁₅H₁₁N₃O₂). The complex was characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform IR spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Two chloride ligands and two bidentate L ligands coordinate the Cu^II centre in 1 in a Jahn-Teller-distorted octahedral geometry of rather unusual configuration: a chloride substituent and a pyrazole N atom of an N,N'-chelating ligand occupy the more distant axial positions. Classical O-H...O hydrogen bonds and O-H...Cl interactions link neighbouring complex molecules and cocrystallized methanol molecules into chains that propagate parallel to the b direction. The title compound shows intriguing bioactivity: the effects of 1 on the enzymatic activity of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) and on the viability of human breast cancer cells of cell line MCF7 were evaluated. Complex 1, with an IC₅₀ value of 0.51 µM, can efficiently inhibit PTP1B activity. An enzyme kinetic assay suggests that 1 inhibits PTP1B in a noncompetitive manner. A fluorescence titration assay indicates that 1 has a strong affinity for PTP1B, with a binding constant of 4.39 × 10⁶ M^-1. Complex 1 may also effectively decrease the viability of MCF7 cells in an extent comparable to that of cisplatin (IC₅₀ = 6.3 µM). The new copper complex therefore represents a promising PTP1B inhibitor and an efficient antiproliferation reagent against MCF7 cells.

An In Vitro Evaluation of the Molecular Mechanisms of Action of Medical Plants from the Lamiaceae Family as Effective Sources of Active Compounds against Human Cancer Cell Lines

It is predicted that 1.8 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed worldwide in 2020; of these, the incidence of lung, colon, breast, and prostate cancers will be 22%, 9%, 7%, and 5%, respectively according to the National Cancer Institute. As the global medical cost of cancer in 2020 will exceed about $150 billion, new approaches and novel alternative chemoprevention molecules are needed. Research indicates that the plants of the Lamiaceae family may offer such potential. The present study reviews selected species from the Lamiaceae and their active compounds that may have the potential to inhibit the growth of lung, breast, prostate, and colon cancer cells; it examines the effects of whole extracts, individual compounds, and essential oils, and it discusses their underlying molecular mechanisms of action. The studied members of the Lamiaceae are sources of crucial phytochemicals that may be important modulators of cancer-related molecular targets and can be used as effective factors to support anti-tumor treatment.