Defining the Role of Isoeugenol from Ocimum tenuiflorum against Diabetes Mellitus-Linked Alzheimer's Disease through Network Pharmacology and Computational Methods

DkDTX1/MATE1 mediates the accumulation of proanthocyanidin and affects astringency in persimmon

Proanthocyanidins (PAs) is a kind of polyphenols widely distributed in plants, and their astringent properties can protect plants from herbivores and regulate fruit taste. There is a great difference in PA composition between astringent (A)-type and nonastringent (NA)-type persimmon. Here, we studied the potential of DkDTX1/MATE1 in regulating PAs composition through its preferred transport in persimmon fruit. The results of fluorescence microscope showed that the DkDTX1/MATE1 green fluorescence overlapped with the blue light emitted by PA. Overexpression of DkDTX1/MATE1 in persimmon leaves not only significantly increase the concentrations of PA, but also upregulated the expression of PA biosynthesis pathway genes. Further overexpression of DkDTX1/MATE1 in persimmon fruit discs and stable genetic transformation of DkDTX1/MATE1 also led to PA concentrations increased. Molecular docking and transporter assays showed that DkDTX1/MATE1 preferentially transported catechin, epicatechin gallate and epigallocatechin gallate. DkDTX1/MATE1 mainly bound to the PA precursors via serine at position 68. Our findings indicate that DkDTX1/MATE1 play a role in the accumulation of PAs in early stage of fruit development and affects the astringency of persimmon through preferential transport PA precursors, which provided a theoretical basis for the future use of metabolic engineering to regulate the composition of PAs in persimmon.

Exploring the Mechanism of Asiatic Acid against Atherosclerosis Based on Molecular Docking, Molecular Dynamics, and Experimental Verification

Asiatic acid (AA) is a pentacyclic triterpene derived from the traditional medicine Centella asiatica. It is known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and lipid-regulating properties. Though previous studies have suggested its potential therapeutic benefits for atherosclerosis, its pharmacological mechanism is unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanism of AA in the treatment of atherosclerosis. Therefore, network pharmacology was employed to uncover the mechanism by which AA acts as an anti-atherosclerotic agent. Furthermore, molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, and in vitro experiments were performed to elucidate the mechanism of AA's anti-atherosclerotic effects. Molecular docking analysis demonstrated a strong affinity between AA and PPARγ. Further MD simulations demonstrated the favorable stability of AA-PPARγ protein complexes. In vitro experiments demonstrated that AA can dose-dependently inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW264.7 cells. This effect may be mediated through the PPARγ/NF-κB signaling pathway. This research underscores anti-inflammation as a crucial biological process in AA treatments for atherosclerosis, with PPARγ potentially serving as a key target.

Synthesis, molecular docking, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and ulcerogenic evaluation of thiophene-pyrazole candidates as COX, 5-LOX, and TNF-α inhibitors

The thiophene bearing pyrazole derivatives (7a-j) were synthesized and examined for their in vitro cyclooxygenase, 5-lipoxygenase, and tumour inducing factor-α inhibitory activities followed by the in vivo analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and ulcerogenic evaluations. The synthesized series (7a-j) were characterized using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FT-IR, and mass spectral analysis. Initially, the compounds (7a-j) were evaluated for their in vitro cyclooxygenase, 5-lipoxygenase, and tumour inducing factor-α inhibitory activities and the compound (7f) with two phenyl substituents in the pyrazole ring and chloro substituent in the thiophene ring and the compound (7g) with two phenyl substituents in the pyrazole ring and bromo substituent in the thiophene ring were observed as potent compounds among the series. The compounds (7f and 7g) with effective in vitro potentials were further analyzed for analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and ulcerogenic evaluations. Also, to ascertain the binding affinities of compounds (7a-j), docking assessments were carried out and the ligand (7f) with the highest binding affinity was docked to know the interactions of the ligand with amino acids of target proteins.

Investigating the antidiabetic efficacy of dairy-derived Lacticaseibacillus paracasei probiotic strains: modulating α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme functions

The current study aims to evaluate and characterize the probiotic andantidiabetic properties of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) obtained from milk and other dairy-based products. The strains were tested physiologically, biochemically, and molecularly. Based on biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing, all three isolates RAMULAB18, RAMULAB19, and RAMULAB53 were identified as Lacticaseibacillus paracasei with homology similarity of more than 98%. The inhibitory potential of each isolate against carbohydrate hydrolysis enzymes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) was assessed using three different preparations of RAMULAB (RL) isolates: the supernatant (RL-CS), intact cells (RL-IC), and cell-free extraction (RL-CE). Additionally, the isolate was evaluated for its antioxidant activity against free radicals (DPPH and ABTS). The strain's RL-CS, RL-CE, and RL-IC inhibited α-amylase (17.25 to 55.42%), α-glucosidase (15.08-59.55%), DPPH (56.42-87.45%), and ABTS (46.35-78.45%) enzymes differently. With the highest survival rate (>98%) toward tolerance to gastrointestinal conditions, hydrophobicity (>42.18%), aggregation (>74.21%), as well as attachment to an individual's colorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) (>64.98%), human buccal and chicken crop epithelial cells, all three isolates exhibited extensive results. All three isolates exhibited high resistance toward antibiotics (methicillin, kanamycin, cefixime, and vancomycin), and other assays such as antibacterial, DNase, hemolytic, and gelatinase were performed for safety assessment. Results suggest that the LAB described are valuable candidates for their significant health benefits and that they can also be utilized as a beginning or bio-preservative tradition in the food, agriculture, and pharmaceutical sectors. The LAB isolates are excellent in vitro probiotic applicants and yet additional in vivo testing is required.

Molecular insights into the in silico discovery of corilagin from Terminalia chebula as a potential dual inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins

The spike (S) glycoprotein and nucleocapsid (N) proteins are the crucial pathogenic proteins of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS CoV-2) virus during its interaction with the host. Even FDA-approved drugs like dexamethasone and grazoprevir are not able to curb the viral progression inside the host and are reported with adverse effects on body metabolism. In this context, we aim to report corilagin a novel, potential dual inhibitor of S and N proteins from Terminalia chebula. The bioactive compounds of T. chebula were subjected to a series of computational investigations including molecular docking simulations, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, binding free energy calculations, and PASS pharmacological analysis. The results obtained from these studies revealed that corilagin was highly interactive with the S (-8.9 kcal/mol) and N (-9.2 kcal/mol) proteins, thereby showing dual inhibition activity. It was also found to be stable enough to induce biological activity inside the inhibitor binding pocket of the target enzymes throughout the dynamics simulation run for 100 ns. This is also confirmed by the changes in the protein conformations, evaluated using free energy landscapes. Outcomes from this investigation identify corilagin as the lead potential dual inhibitor of S and N proteins of SARS-CoV-2, which could be taken for biological studies in near future.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Inhibitory effect of gallic acid from Thunbergia mysorensis against α-glucosidase, α-amylase, aldose reductase and their interaction: Inhibition kinetics and molecular simulations

In this exploration, we assessed the antihyperglycaemic properties of methanol extract of flowers of Thunbergia mysorensis (MeT) against α-glucosidase, α-amylase and aldose reductase enzymes for the effective management of postprandial hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia occurs when the body lacks enough insulin or is unable to correctly utilize it. MeT inhibited both the carbohydrate digestive enzymes (α-glucosidase and α-amylase) and aldose reductase, which are vital for the therapeutic control of postprandial hyperglycaemia. MeT was also found to have significant antioxidant activity. Using several spectroscopic approaches, the primary active component found in MeT was identified as gallic acid. With low Ki values, gallic acid significantly inhibited α-glucosidase (30.86 µg/mL) and α-amylase (6.50 µg/mL). Also, MeT and gallic acid both inhibited aldose reductase effectively, corresponding to an IC50 value of 3.31 and 3.05 µg/mL. Our findings imply that the presence of polyphenol compounds (identified via HPLC analysis) is more likely to be responsible for the antihyperglycaemic role exhibited by MeT via the inhibition of α-glucosidase and the polyol pathway. Further, gallic acid interacted with the key residues of the active sites of α-glucosidase (-6.4 kcal/mol), α-amylase (-5.8 kcal/mol) and aldose reductase (-5.8 kcal/mol) as observed in the protein-ligand docking. It was also predicted that gallic acid was stable inside the binding pockets of the target enzymes during molecular dynamics simulation. Overall, gallic acid derived from MeT via bioassay-guided isolation emerges as a natural antidiabetic drug and can be taken into in vivo and clinical studies shortly.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

An insight into the cytotoxic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and biocontrol perspective of novel Iron(III) complexes of substituted benzimidazoles: Inhibition kinetics and molecular simulations

Mononuclear complexes [FeCl3L2(OH2)] (L = L1, L2) were designed and synthesized by combining FeCl3 with 2-(3'-Aminophenylbenzimidazole) (L1) and 2-[(3'-N-Salicylidinephenyl)benzimidazole] (L2) and were characterized by physico-analytical strategies. The redox properties of the complexes were disclosed by the cyclic voltammetric method. Further, the interactions of complexes with proteins were studied by performing molecular docking engaging protein models of common cancer therapeutic targets to foresee their affinity to bind to these proteins. The complexes evidenced better protein-ligand docking (-8.4 and -9.0 kcal mol-1) and higher binding energies than their ligands. However, the L1 complex displayed improved binding free energy (-33.576 ± 1.01 kcal mol-1) compared to the other complexes and individual ligands. These compounds were screened for in vitro cytotoxic assays against triple-negative breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-468 cells), anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. The in vitro study complemented the in silico assay; therefore, these compounds may be a viable choice for expanding anticancer therapy. Additionally, the L2 showed better biocontrol activity owing to the enhanced growth of Trichoderma and inhibited the growth of Fusarium oxysporum.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Exploration of probiotic attributes in lactic acid bacteria isolated from fermented Theobroma cacao L. fruit using in vitro techniques

Probiotics are known for their health-promoting properties and are recognized as beneficial microorganisms. The current investigation delves into the isolation and comprehensive in vitro characterization of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) obtained from the Indian-origin Theobroma cacao L. Forastero variety to assess their potential as probiotic candidates. Eleven LAB isolates were obtained, and among them, five exhibited classical LAB traits. These five isolates underwent rigorous in vitro characterization to evaluate their suitability as probiotics. The assessments included resilience against acid and bile salts, which are crucial for probiotic viability. Additionally, the isolates were subjected to simulated gastric and pancreatic fluids and lysozyme exposure to assess their survival rates. Auto- aggregation, co-aggregation, hydrophobicity, and exopolysaccharide production were also examined. The inhibitory potential of α-glucosidase, an enzyme related to glucose metabolism, was measured, and antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH and ABTS assays. A safety assessment was conducted to confirm the non-pathogenic nature of the isolates. Among the five isolates, CR2 emerged as a standout candidate with maximal bile salt hydrolase activity, phenol resistance, and lysozyme resistance. CR2 and CYF3 exhibited notable survival rates under simulated conditions. The isolates displayed variable degrees of auto-aggregation, co-aggregation, and hydrophobicity. CR2 exhibited the highest exopolysaccharide production (0.66 mg/mL), suggesting diverse applications in the food industry. CR2 also demonstrated the highest inhibition rate against α-glucosidase (56.55%) and substantial antioxidant activity (79.62% DPPH, 83.45% ABTS). Safety assessment confirmed the non- pathogenic nature of the isolates. Molecular characterization identified CR2 as Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and CYF3 as Limnosilactobacillus fermentum. Both strains exhibited commendable probiotic and technological attributes, positioning them as promising candidates for functional foods and beyond. This study provides valuable insights into the in vitro characterization of LAB isolated from Indian Theobroma cacao L., highlighting their potential as probiotic candidates with advantageous traits, including survival in hostile conditions, beneficial enzymatic activities, bioactivity, and other essential attributes.

Protocol to identify multiple protein targets and therapeutic compounds using an in silico polypharmacological approach

Polypharmacology aids in the identification of multiple protein targets involved in disease pathology and selecting appropriate therapeutic compounds interacting with protein targets. Here, we present a protocol to identify the targets involved in obesity-linked diabetes and suitable phytocompounds to bind with the identified target. We describe steps to install and use softwares for identifying several protein targets by linking multiple diseases. This protocol allows the use of therapeutic compounds of both phytochemical and synthetic origins. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Martiz et al.,1 and Maradesha et al.2.

Network pharmacology based anti-diabetic attributes of bioactive compounds from Ocimum gratissimum L. through computational approach

The present research was framed to determine the key compounds present in the plant Ocimum gratissimum L. targeting protein molecules of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) by employing In-silico approaches. Phytochemicals previously reported to be present in this herb were collated through literature survey and public phytochemical databases, and their probable targets were anticipated using BindingDB (p ≥ 0.7). STRING and KEGG pathway databases were employed for pathway enrichment analysis. Homology modelling was executed to elucidate the structures of therapeutic targets. Further, Phytocompounds from O. gratissimum were subjected for docking with four therapeutic targets of DM by using AutoDock vina through POAP pipeline implementation. 30 compounds were predicted to target 136 protein molecules including aldose reductase, DPP4, alpha-amylase, and alpha-glucosidase. Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, MAPK, PI3K-Akt, starch and insulin resistance were predicted to have potentially modulation by phytocompounds. Based on the phytocompound's binding score with the four targets of DM, Rutin scored the lowest binding energy (-11 kcal/mol) with Aldose reductase by forming 17 intermolecular interactions. In conclusion, based on the network and binding score, phytocompounds from O. gratissimum have a synergistic and considerable effect in the management of DM via multi-compound, multi-target, and multi-pathway mechanisms.

Quinoline- and Isoindoline-Integrated Polycyclic Compounds as Antioxidant, and Antidiabetic Agents Targeting the Dual Inhibition of α-Glycosidase and α-Amylase Enzymes

Novel analogs of quinoline and isoindoline containing various heterocycles, such as tetrazole, triazole, pyrazole, and pyridine, were synthesized and characterized using FT-IR, NMR, and mass spectroscopy, and their antioxidant and antidiabetic activities were investigated. The previously synthesized compound 1 was utilized in conjugation with ketone-bearing tetrazole and isoindoline-1,3-dione to synthesize Schiff's bases 2 and 3. Furthermore, hydrazide 1 was treated with aryledines to provide pyrazoles 4a-c. Compound 5 was obtained by treating 1 with potassium thiocyanate, which was then cyclized in a basic solution to afford triazole 6. On the other hand, pyridine derivatives 7a-d and 8a-d were synthesized using 2-(4-acetylphenyl)isoindoline-1,3-dione via a one-pot condensation reaction with aryl aldehydes and active methylene compounds. From the antioxidant and antidiabetic studies, compound 7d showed significant antioxidant activity with an EC50 = 0.65, 0.52, and 0.93 mM in the free radical scavenging assays (DPPH, ABTS, and superoxide anion radicals). It also displayed noteworthy inhibitory activity against both enzymes α-glycosidase (IC50: 0.07 mM) and α-amylase (0.21 mM) compared to acarbose (0.09 mM α-glycosidase and 0.25 mM for α-amylase), and higher than in the other compounds. During in silico assays, compound 7d exhibited favorable binding affinities towards both α-glycosidase (-10.9 kcal/mol) and α-amylase (-9.0 kcal/mol) compared to acarbose (-8.6 kcal/mol for α-glycosidase and -6.0 kcal/mol for α-amylase). The stability of 7d was demonstrated by molecular dynamics simulations and estimations of the binding free energy throughout the simulation session (100 ns).

Screening for potential novel probiotic Levilactobacillus brevis RAMULAB52 with antihyperglycemic property from fermented Carica papaya L

Probiotics are live microorganisms with various health benefits when consumed in appropriate amounts. Fermented foods are a rich source of these beneficial organisms. This study aimed to investigate the probiotic potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from fermented papaya (Carica papaya L.) through in vitro methods. The LAB strains were thoroughly characterized, considering their morphological, physiological, fermentative, biochemical, and molecular properties. The LAB strain's adherence and resistance to gastrointestinal conditions, as well as its antibacterial and antioxidant capabilities, were examined. Moreover, the strains were tested for susceptibility against specific antibiotics, and safety evaluations encompassed the hemolytic assay and DNase activity. The supernatant of the LAB isolate underwent organic acid profiling (LCMS). The primary objective of this study was to assess the inhibitory activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes, both in vitro and in silico. Gram-positive strains that were catalase-negative and carbohydrate fermenting were selected for further analysis. The LAB isolate exhibited resistance to acid bile (0.3% and 1%), phenol (0.1% and 0.4%), and simulated gastrointestinal juice (pH 3-8). It demonstrated potent antibacterial and antioxidant abilities and resistance to kanamycin, vancomycin, and methicillin. The LAB strain showed autoaggregation (83%) and adhesion to chicken crop epithelial cells, buccal epithelial cells, and HT-29 cells. Safety assessments indicated no evidence of hemolysis or DNA degradation, confirming the safety of the LAB isolates. The isolate's identity was confirmed using the 16S rRNA sequence. The LAB strain Levilactobacillus brevis RAMULAB52, derived from fermented papaya, exhibited promising probiotic properties. Moreover, the isolate demonstrated significant inhibition of α-amylase (86.97%) and α-glucosidase (75.87%) enzymes. In silico studies uncovered that hydroxycitric acid, one of the organic acids derived from the isolate, interacted with crucial amino acid residues of the target enzymes. Specifically, hydroxycitric acid formed hydrogen bonds with key amino acid residues, such as GLU233 and ASP197 in α-amylase, and ASN241, ARG312, GLU304, SER308, HIS279, PRO309, and PHE311 in α-glucosidase. In conclusion, Levilactobacillus brevis RAMULAB52, isolated from fermented papaya, possesses promising probiotic properties and exhibits potential as an effective remedy for diabetes. Its resistance to gastrointestinal conditions, antibacterial and antioxidant abilities, adhesion to different cell types, and significant inhibition of target enzymes make it a valuable candidate for further research and potential application in the field of probiotics and diabetes management.

B. C, Huligere SS, Khan MS, Alafaleq NO, Ahmad S, Akhter F, Sreepathi N, P. A, Ramu R. Inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes by a potential probiotic Levilactobacillus brevis RAMULAB49 isolated from fermented Ananas comosus

The research aimed to explore the potential probiotic characteristics of Levilactobacillus brevis RAMULAB49, a strain of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from fermented pineapple, specifically focusing on its antidiabetic effects. The importance of probiotics in maintaining a balanced gut microbiota and supporting human physiology and metabolism motivated this research. All collected isolates underwent microscopic and biochemical screenings, and those exhibiting Gram-positive characteristics, negative catalase activity, phenol tolerance, gastrointestinal conditions, and adhesion capabilities were selected. Antibiotic susceptibility was assessed, along with safety evaluations encompassing hemolytic and DNase enzyme activity tests. The isolate's antioxidant activity and its ability to inhibit carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes were examined. Additionally, organic acid profiling (LC-MS) and in silico studies were conducted on the tested extracts. Levilactobacillus brevis RAMULAB49 demonstrated desired characteristics such as Gram-positive, negative catalase activity, phenol tolerance, gastrointestinal conditions, hydrophobicity (65.71%), and autoaggregation (77.76%). Coaggregation activity against Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium was observed. Molecular characterization revealed significant antioxidant activity in Levilactobacillus brevis RAMULAB49, with ABTS and DPPH inhibition rates of 74.85% and 60.51%, respectively, at a bacterial cell concentration of 109 CFU/mL. The cell-free supernatant exhibited substantial inhibition of α-amylase (56.19%) and α-glucosidase (55.69%) in vitro. In silico studies supported these findings, highlighting the inhibitory effects of specific organic acids such as citric acid, hydroxycitric acid, and malic acid, which displayed higher Pa values compared to other compounds. These outcomes underscore the promising antidiabetic potential of Levilactobacillus brevis RAMULAB49, isolated from fermented pineapple. Its probiotic properties, including antimicrobial activity, autoaggregation, and gastrointestinal conditions, contribute to its potential therapeutic application. The inhibitory effects on α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities further support its anti-diabetic properties. In silico analysis identified specific organic acids that may contribute to the observed antidiabetic effects. Levilactobacillus brevis RAMULAB49, as a probiotic isolate derived from fermented pineapple, holds promise as an agent for managing diabetes. Further investigations should focus on evaluating its efficacy and safety in vivo to consider its potential therapeutic application in diabetes management.

K. J, N. AS, Taha Babakr A, Sreenivasan R, Ramu R, Madhunapantula SV. Bioactive profiling and evaluation of anti-proliferative and anti-cancerous properties of Shivagutika, an Indian polyherbal formulation synchronizing in vitro and in silico approaches

Shivagutika is a polyherbal formulation mentioned in Ayurveda, the oldest system of medicine. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-breast cancer potential of DCM extract of Shivagutika using MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and MDA-MB-468. Primarily, various extracts of Shivagutika were prepared and subjected to primary in vitro analysis-total protein, phenolic acid content, and flavonoid content. DCM extract among all the extracts showed the promising results hence, it was subjected to LC-MS/MS analysis to identify the phytochemicals. The same extract was subjected to anti-proliferation assay and anti-cancer assay. It inhibited all the 3 cell lines and increased the activity of Caspase 3, pro-apoptotic protein. Further, to find the potent molecule(s) in silico analysis (molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies) was performed. Sciadopitysin was identified as a potent molecule among all phytochemicals as it interacted with Caspase 3 with a binding energy of -7.2 kcal/mol. MD simulation studies also revealed that Sciadopitysin was stable inside the binding pocket of Caspase 3 by interacting with the amino acids in the catalytic site thereby activating the Caspase 3 levels. By all the above results, Shivagutika could be used as a potent anti-breast cancer agent (specifically DCM extract of Shivagutika) which could decrease the cases of breast cancer in future.

α-Amylase inhibitory potential of Thunbergia mysorensis leaves extract and bioactive compounds by in vitro and computational approach

In this study, we aim to evaluate the anti-diabetic potential of Thunbergia mysorensis leaves methanolic extract (MeL) using inhibitory assays for α-glucosidase (AG), α-amylase (AM) (carbohydrate digestive enzymes) and aldose reductase (AR) (an enzyme involved in the polyol pathway responsible for glycation). In addition to antidiabetic studies, antioxidant studies were also performed due to the fact that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced by various pathways under diabetic conditions. Hyperglycemia induces ROS by activating the glycation reaction and the electron transport chain in mitochondria. The MeL effectively inhibited the enzymes (AG IC50: 27.86 ± 1.0, AM IC50: 12.00 ± 0.0, AR IC50: 4.50 ± 0.09 μg/mL) and showed effective radical ion scavenging activity during the antioxidant assay (DPPH EC50: 30.10 ± 0.75, ABTS EC50: 27.25 ± 1.00, Superoxide EC50: 35.00 ± 1.50 μg/mL). Using activity-guided repeated fractionation on a silica gel column chromatography, two compounds including 3,4-dimethoxy benzoic acid (DMBA) (101 mg) and 3,4-dimethoxy cinnamic acid (DMCA) (87 mg) with potent anti-diabetic activity were extracted from the MeL of T. mysorensis leaves. Both DMBA (IC50 AG: 27.00 ± 1.05, IC50 AM: 12.15 ± 0.10, IC50 AR: 4.86 ± 0.30 μg/mL) and DMCA (IC50 AG: 27.25 ± 0.98, IC50 AM: 12.50 ± 0.20, IC50 AR: 5.00 ± 1.00 μg/mL) were subjected for enzyme inhibition. Since both compounds significantly inhibited AM, enzyme kinetics for AM inhibition was performed. The compounds also showed effective antioxidant potential (DPPH EC50: 30.50 ± 0.99, ABTS EC50: 27.86 ± 0.16, Superoxide EC50: 36.10 ± 0.24 μg/mL), and DMCA (DPPH EC50: 31.00 ± 1.00, ABTS EC50: 28.00 ± 0.25, Superoxide EC50: 36.25 ± 0.37 μg/mL). Further, to elucidate the role of DMBA and DMCA in enzyme inhibition and stability at the molecular level, both compounds were subjected for in silico enzyme inhibitory studies using molecular docking simulation, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, and binding free energy calculations. Compared to AR and AG, AM was the most significantly inhibited enzyme (DMBA: -6.6 and DMCA: -7.8 kcal/mol), and compounds combined with AM were subjected to MD simulation. Both compounds were stable in the binding pocket of AM till 100 ns and chiefly use Van der Waal's energy to bind. Compared to the controls, both DMBA and DMCA had a higher efficiency in the inhibition of target enzymes in vitro and in silico. The presence of DMBA and DMCA is more likely to be associated with the potential of MeL in antihyperglycemic activity. This bio-computational study indicates DMBA and DMCA as potential lead inhibitors of AM and could be used as effective anti-diabetic drugs in the near future.

In Vitro Anticancer and Antibacterial Activities of the Essential Oil of Forsskal’s Basil Growing in Extreme Environmental Conditions

Many species belonging to the genus Ocimum are used for aromatic, medicinal, and cosmetic purposes. The essential oil (OFEO) obtained by hydrodistillation of the flowering aerial parts of Forsskal’s Basil “Ocimum forskolei Benth” growing in extreme environmental conditions in Mecca Region, Saudi Arabia was analyzed by GC-MS. The main constituents were phenylpropanoids (methyl eugenol 55.65% and eugenol 11.66%), monoterpene (linalool 9.75%), and sesquiterpenes (germacrene D 3.72% and β-caryophyllene 2.57%). The OFEO was tested against MCF7, HT29, and HCT116 cancer cells and compared with normal fibroblast cells (MRC5). The MTT assay showed that HCT116 was more sensitive to OFEO (IC50 5.34 μg/mL), which reduced the number of HCT116 colonies at 6 μg/mL, while causing complete colony death at 12 and 24 μg/mL. Western Blotting and qRT-PCR were used to evaluate the level change of different proteins with respect to GAPDH. OFEO upregulated the apoptotic protein (caspase 3), and downregulated the cell proliferation proteins (AKT and pAKT), cell cycle arrest (PCNA, Cyclin D1), and the anti-apoptotic Bcl2 proteins. OFEO was also tested against reference strains of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus by using the well-diffusion and assessing their MICs, which ranged from 250 to 500 μg/mL.

Computational approaches to define poncirin from Magnolia champaka leaves as a novel multi-target inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2

Phytochemical-based drug discovery against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been the focus of the current scenario. In this context, we aimed to perform the phytochemical profiling of Magnolia champaka, an evergreen tree from the Magnoliaceae family, in order to perform a virtual screening of its phytoconstituents against different biological targets of SARS-CoV-2. The phytochemicals identified from the ethanol extract of M. champaka leaves using liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) technique were screened against SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (PDB ID: 6M0J), main protease/Mpro (PDB ID: 6LU7), and papain-like protease/PLpro (PDB ID: 7CMD) through computational tools. The experimentation design included molecular docking simulation, molecular dynamics simulation, and binding free energy calculations. Through molecular docking simulation, we identified poncirin as a common potential inhibitor of all the above-mentioned target proteins. In addition, molecular dynamics simulations, binding free energy calculations, and PCA analysis also supported the outcomes of the virtual screening. By the virtue of all the in silico results obtained, poncirin could be taken for in vitro and in vivo studies in near future.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Isolation and characterization of lactic acid bacteria with potential probiotic activity and further investigation of their activity by α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitions of fermented batters

Probiotic microbiota plays a vital role in gastrointestinal health and possesses other beneficial attributes such as antimicrobial and antibiotic agents along with a significant role in the management of diabetes. The present study identifies the probiotic potential of Lactobacillus spp. isolated from three traditionally fermented foods namely, jalebi, medhu vada, and kallappam batters at biochemical, physiological, and molecular levels. By 16S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing, the isolates were identified. A similarity of >98% to Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus RAMULAB13, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum RAMULAB14, Lactiplantibacillus pentosus RAMULAB15, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei RAMULAB16, Lacticaseibacillus casei RAMULAB17, Lacticaseibacillus casei RAMULAB20, and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei RAMULAB21 was suggested when searched for homology using NCBI database. Utilizing the cell-free supernatant (CS), intact cells (IC), and cell-free extract (CE) of the isolates, inhibitory potential activity against the carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes α-glucosidase and α-amylase was assessed. CS, CE, and IC of the isolates had a varying capability of inhibition against α-glucosidase (15.08 to 59.55%) and α-amylase (18.79 to 63.42%) enzymes. To assess the probiotic potential of seven isolates, various preliminary characteristics were examined. All the isolates exhibited substantial tolerance toward gastrointestinal conditions and also demonstrated the highest survival rate (> 99%), hydrophobicity (> 65%), aggregation (> 76%), adherence to HT-29 cells (> 84%), and chicken crop epithelial cells suggesting that the isolates had a high probiotic attribute. Additionally, the strains showed remarkable results in safety assessment assays (DNase and hemolytic), and antibacterial and antibiotic evaluations. The study concludes that the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) characterized possesses outstanding probiotic properties and has antidiabetic effects. In order to obtain various health advantages, LAB can be utilized as probiotic supplements.

Study on the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis with quercetin in Liuwei Dihuang Pill based on network pharmacology

BACKGROUND

Liuwei Dihuang Pill (LP) was verified to alleviate postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) development. Nevertheless, the major constituent of LP and the related network pharmacology study remain unexplored.

METHODS

Protein-protein interaction was established to identify the downstream target of LP in PMOP, and the related signaling pathway was investigated by bioinformatics analysis. MC3T3-E1 cells were added to ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) to mimic osteoporosis in vitro. The osteoblasts were identified by Alizarin red staining. Western blot was applied to evaluate protein levels. In addition, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assay was applied to assess cell viability, and cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Quercetin was the major constituent of LP. In addition, quercetin significantly reversed FAC-induced inhibition of osteogenic differentiation in MC3T3-E1 cells. In addition, quercetin notably abolished the FAC-induced upregulation of Bax, Caspase-3, FOS, JUN, TGFB1 and PPARD. In contrast, Bcl-2, p-mTOR/mTOR, p-AKT/AKT and p-PI3K/PI3K levels in MC3T3-E1 cells were reduced by FAC, which was restored by quercetin. Meanwhile, FAC notably inhibited the viability of MC3T3-E1 cells via inducing apoptosis, but this impact was abolished by quercetin. Furthermore, quercetin could reverse pcDNA3.1-FOS-mediated growth of FAC-treated osteoblasts by mediating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling.

CONCLUSION

Quercetin alleviated the progression of PMOP via activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling. Hence, this study would shed novel insights into discovering new methods against PMOP.

Synthesis, Spectroscopic Characterization, Antibacterial Activity, and Computational Studies of Novel Pyridazinone Derivatives

In this work, a novel series of pyridazinone derivatives (3-17) were synthesized and characterized by NMR (¹H and ¹³C), FT-IR spectroscopies, and ESI-MS methods. All synthesized compounds were screened for their antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus (Methicillin-resistant), Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii. Among the series, compounds 7 and 13 were found to be active against S. aureus (MRSA), P. aeruginosa, and A. baumannii with the lowest MIC value range of 3.74-8.92 µM. Afterwards, DFT calculations of B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) level were carried out to investigate geometry structures, frontier molecular orbital, molecular electrostatic potential maps, and gap energies of the synthesized compounds. In addition, the activities of these compounds against various bacterial proteins were compared with molecular-docking calculations. Finally, ADMET studies were performed to investigate the possibility of using of the target compounds as drugs.

Integrated network pharmacology and molecular modeling approach for the discovery of novel potential MAPK3 inhibitors from whole green jackfruit flour targeting obesity-linked diabetes mellitus

The current study investigates the effectiveness of phytocompounds from the whole green jackfruit flour methanol extract (JME) against obesity-linked diabetes mellitus using integrated network pharmacology and molecular modeling approach. Through network pharmacology, druglikeness and pharmacokinetics, molecular docking simulations, GO analysis, molecular dynamics simulations, and binding free energy analyses, it aims to look into the mechanism of the JME phytocompounds in the amelioration of obesity-linked diabetes mellitus. There are 15 predicted genes corresponding to the 11 oral bioactive compounds of JME. The most important of these 15 genes was MAPK3. According to the network analysis, the insulin signaling pathway has been predicted to have the strongest affinity to MAPK3 protein, which was chosen as the target. With regard to the molecular docking simulation, the greatest notable binding affinity for MAPK3 was discovered to be caffeic acid (-8.0 kJ/mol), deoxysappanone B 7,3'-dimethyl ether acetate (DBDEA) (-8.2 kJ/mol), and syringic acid (-8.5 kJ/mol). All the compounds were found to be stable inside the inhibitor binding pocket of the enzyme during molecular dynamics simulation. During binding free energy calculation, all the compounds chiefly used Van der Waal's free energy to bind with the target protein (caffeic acid: 102.296 kJ/mol, DBDEA: -104.268 kJ/mol, syringic acid: -100.171 kJ/mol). Based on these findings, it may be inferred that the reported JME phytocompounds could be used for in vitro and in vivo research, with the goal of targeting MAPK3 inhibition for the treatment of obesity-linked diabetes mellitus.

Phyto-Computational Intervention of Diabetes Mellitus at Multiple Stages Using Isoeugenol from Ocimum tenuiflorum: A Combination of Pharmacokinetics and Molecular Modelling Approaches

In the present study, the anti-diabetic potential of Ocimum tenuiflorum was investigated using computational techniques for α-glucosidase, α-amylase, aldose reductase, and glycation at multiple stages. It aimed to elucidate the mechanism by which phytocompounds of O. tenuiflorum treat diabetes mellitus using concepts of druglikeness and pharmacokinetics, molecular docking simulations, molecular dynamics simulations, and binding free energy studies. Isoeugenol is a phenylpropene, propenyl-substituted guaiacol found in the essential oils of plants. During molecular docking modelling, isoeugenol was found to inhibit all the target enzymes, with a higher binding efficiency than standard drugs. Furthermore, molecular dynamic experiments revealed that isoeugenol was more stable in the binding pockets than the standard drugs used. Since our aim was to discover a single lead molecule with a higher binding efficiency and stability, isoeugenol was selected. In this context, our study stands in contrast to other computational studies that report on more than one compound, making it difficult to offer further analyses. To summarize, we recommend isoeugenol as a potential widely employed lead inhibitor of α-glucosidase, α-amylase, aldose reductase, and glycation based on the results of our in silico studies, therefore revealing a novel phytocompound for the effective treatment of hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus.

Multiprotein Inhibitory Effect of Dietary Polyphenol Rutin from Whole Green Jackfruit Flour Targeting Different Stages of Diabetes Mellitus: Defining a Bio-Computational Stratagem

The anti-diabetic potential of whole unripe jackfruit (peel with pulp, flake, and seed) was investigated using inhibitory assays for α-glucosidase, α-amylase, aldose reductase, and glycation at multiple stages. Using activity-guided repeated fractionation on a silica gel column chromatography, dietary flavonoid rutin with potent antihyperglycemic activity was extracted from the methanol extract of whole jackfruit flour (MJ). Rutin was found to inhibit both α-glucosidase (IC50: 7.86 µg/mL) and α-amylase (IC50: 22.00 µg/mL) in a competitive manner of inhibition with low Ki values. In addition, in vitro glycation experiments revealed that rutin prevented each stage of protein glycation as well as the production of intermediate molecules. Furthermore, rutin significantly inhibited aldose reductase (IC50: 2.75 µg/mL) in a non-competitive manner. During in silico studies, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies have suggested that rutin has a high binding affinity for the enzymes studied, which could explain its inhibitory effects. Rutin interacted with the key residues of the target enzymes’ inhibitor binding sites. Compared to the controls used, rutin had a higher binding efficiency as well as stability in the inhibitor binding pocket of the target enzymes. According to our findings, the presence of rutin is more likely to be associated with the potential of MJ in antihyperglycemic activity via inhibition of α-glucosidase and in anti-diabetic action via inhibition of the polyol pathway and protein glycation. The bio-computational study indicates rutin as a potential lead inhibitor of all the target enzymes used and could be used as an effective anti-diabetic drug in the near future.

Computer-Aided Screening of Phytoconstituents from Ocimum tenuiflorum against Diabetes Mellitus Targeting DPP4 Inhibition: A Combination of Molecular Docking, Molecular Dynamics, and Pharmacokinetics Approaches

Diabetes mellitus is a major global health concern in the current scenario which is chiefly characterized by the rise in blood sugar levels or hyperglycemia. In the context, DPP4 enzyme plays a critical role in glucose homeostasis. DPP4 targets and inactivates incretin hormones such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) as physiological substrates, which are essential to regulate the amount of insulin that is secreted after eating. Since the inactivation of incretins occurs, the hyperglycemic conditions continue to rise, and result in adverse physiological conditions linked with diabetes mellitus. Hence, inhibition of DPP4 has been the center of focus in the present antidiabetic studies. Although few DPP4 inhibitor drugs, such as alogliptin, saxagliptin, linagliptin, and sitagliptin, are available, their adverse effects on human metabolism are undeniable. Therefore, it becomes essential for the phytochemical intervention of the disease using computational methods prior to performing in vitro and in vivo studies. In this regard, we used an in-silico approach involving molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and binding free energy calculations to investigate the inhibitory potential of Ocimum tenuiflorum phytocompounds against DPP4. In this regard, three phytocompounds (1S-α-pinene, β-pinene, and dehydro-p-cymene) from O. tenuiflorum have been discovered as the potential inhibitors of the DPP4 protein. To summarize, from our in-silico experiment outcomes, we propose dehydro-p-cymene as the potential lead inhibitor of DPP4 protein, thereby discovering new a phytocompound for the effective management of hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus. The reported compound can be taken for in vitro and in vivo analyses in near future.

Synthesis, Characterization, Hirshfeld Surface Analysis, Crystal Structure and Molecular Modeling Studies of 1-(4-(Methoxy(phenyl)methyl)-2-methylphenoxy)butan-2-one Derivative as a Novel α-Glucosidase Inhibitor

The crystal compound was synthesized and characterized using conventional analytical techniques. The compound C19H21O3 crystallizes in a monoclinic crystal system with the space group P21/c. The crystal structure is stabilized by C-H…O interactions. The structure is further reinforced by π-π interactions. During in vitro inhibition of α-glucosidase, the crystal compound exhibited a significant inhibition of the enzyme (IC50: 10.30 ± 0.25 µg/mL) in comparison with the control, acarbose (IC50: 12.00 ± 0.10 µg/mL). Molecular docking studies were carried out for the crystal compound with the α-glucosidase protein model, which demonstrated that the crystal molecule has a good binding affinity (−10.8 kcal/mol) compared with that of acarbose (−8.2 kcal/mol). The molecular dynamics simulations and binding free energy calculations depicted the stability of the crystal molecule throughout the simulation period (100 ns). Further, a Hirshfeld analysis was carried out in order to understand the packing pattern and intermolecular interactions. The energy difference between the frontier molecular orbitals (FMO) was 4.95 eV.

Discovery of Novel Coumarin Derivatives as Potential Dual Inhibitors against α-Glucosidase and α-Amylase for the Management of Post-Prandial Hyperglycemia via Molecular Modelling Approaches

Coumarin derivatives are proven for their therapeutic uses in several human diseases and disorders such as inflammation, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, fertility, and microbial infections. Coumarin derivatives and coumarin-based scaffolds gained renewed attention for treating diabetes mellitus. The current decade witnessed the inhibiting potential of coumarin derivatives and coumarin-based scaffolds against α-glucosidase and α-amylase for the management of postprandial hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia is a condition where an excessive amount of glucose circulates in the bloodstream. It occurs when the body lacks enough insulin or is unable to correctly utilize it. With open-source and free in silico tools, we have investigated novel 80 coumarin derivatives for their inhibitory potential against α-glucosidase and α-amylase and identified a coumarin derivative, CD-59, as a potential dual inhibitor. The ligand-based 3D pharmacophore detection and search is utilized to discover diverse coumarin-like compounds and new chemical scaffolds for the dual inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase. In this regard, four novel coumarin-like compounds from the ZINC database have been discovered as the potential dual inhibitors of α-glucosidase and α-amylase (ZINC02789441 and ZINC40949448 with scaffold thiophenyl chromene carboxamide, ZINC13496808 with triazino indol thio phenylacetamide, and ZINC09781623 with chromenyl thiazole). To summarize, we propose that a coumarin derivative, CD-59, and ZINC02789441 from the ZINC database will serve as potential lead molecules with dual inhibition activity against α-glucosidase and α-amylase, thereby discovering new drugs for the effective management of postprandial hyperglycemia. From the reported scaffold, the synthesis of several novel compounds can also be performed, which can be used for drug discovery.