Molecular Docking Studies of Phenolic Compounds from Syzygium cumini with Multiple Targets of Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Treatment of type 2 diabetes without any side effects is still a challenge to the medical system. This leads to increasing demand for natural products with antidiabetic activity with fewer side effects. Syzygium cumini is a traditional herbal medicinal plant and is reported to possess a variety of pharmacological actions. It contains various types of chemical constituents including terpenoids, tannins, anthocyanins, flavonoids and other phenolic compounds. Some flavonoids and other phenolic compounds from S. cumini were reported in literature to have type 2 antidiabetic potential. The main objective of the current investigation was in silico screening of some phenolic compounds from S. cumini against multiple targets associated with type 2 diabetes to explore the mechanism of antidiabetic action and prediction of binding mode using molecular docking studies. In silico docking studies were performed for the selected molecules in the binding site of multiple targets associated with type 2 diabetes (α-glucosidas , dipeptidyl peptidase 4, glycogen synthase kinase 3, glucokinase and glucagon receptor). Amongst the compounds tested in silico, rutin showed appreciable binding with multiple targets of type 2 diabetes including α-glucosidase, dipeptidyl peptidase 4, glycogen synthase kinase 3, and glucagon receptor. Catechin was found to inhibit both α-glucosidase, and dipeptidyl peptidase 4. This information can be utilized for the design and development of potent multi-functional candidate drugs with minimal side effects for type 2 diabetes therapeuticsa.