Exploring the potential of Laurus nobilis as activators of insulin receptor activity

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus, a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and impaired glucose metabolism, highlights the need for novel therapeutic agents with minimal side effects. Natural compounds from medicinal plants have gained attention as safer alternatives. Laurus nobilis (bay laurel), traditionally used to treat digestive, respiratory, and skin ailments, holds untapped potential in diabetes management through insulin receptor activation. This study explored the drug-likeness, ADMET properties, molecular docking, and bioactivity of Laurus nobilis phytochemicals to evaluate their potential as insulin receptor activators. Ethanolic extracts were assessed for In vitro anti-diabetic activity, followed by computational analysis of 40 phytochemicals from the IMPPAT database. Drug-likeness was evaluated using Lipinski’s Rule of Five via the SwissADME web server, while ADMET analysis provided pharmacokinetic insights. Molecular docking performed with PyRx (AutoDock Vina) and bioactivity prediction via the PASS web server identified 9 phytochemicals, including delta-cadinene, beta-selinene, epsilon-muurolene, beta-caryophyllene, and gamma-cadinene, exhibiting favorable binding affinities and interactions with key residues such as Met1103, Ala1055, Leu1105, and Val1037, comparable to the control drug, doxorubicin. ADMET analysis confirmed favorable pharmacokinetic properties, with all 9 compounds identified as non-BBB permeants. Bioactivity predictions indicated insulin promoter activity in 8 compounds, excluding beta-selinene. These findings suggest that Laurus nobilis phytochemicals have potential as natural insulin receptor activators, offering a promising avenue for diabetes management. Further In vitro and in vivo studies are required to validate their efficacy and bioavailability.