Computational investigation of 2, 4-Di Tert Butyl Phenol as alpha amylase inhibitor isolated from Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt using molecular docking, and ADMET parameters

INTRODUCTION

Diabetes Mellitus is the metabolic disorder most prevalent globally, accounting for a substantial morbidity rate. The conventional drugs available for the management of diabetes are either expensive or lack the required efficacy. The purpose of this research is to isolate and characterize an active phytoconstituent from Coccinia grandis and assess its anti-diabetic properties.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Stems of Coccinia grandis are subjected to successive extraction and isolation. The isolated compound by column chromatography was characterized by FTIR (fourier-transform infrared), 1 H NMR (proton nuclear magnetic resonance), and Mass spectroscopy. The antidiabetic potential of the isolated compound was evaluated by in-vitro alpha-amylase inhibitory activity. Further, the compound was subjected to molecular docking studies to study its interaction with the human pancreatic alpha-amylase (Molegro Virtual Docker) as well to determine the pharmacokinetic and toxicity profile using computational techniques (OSIRIS property explorer, Swiss ADME, pkCSM, and PreADMET).

RESULTS

The characterization of the compound suggests the structure to be 2,4-ditertiary butyl phenol. The in-vitro alpha-amylase inhibitory study indicated a concentration-dependent inhibition and the IC50 (median lethal dose) value of the isolated compound was found to be 64.36 μg/ml. The docking study with the A chain of receptor 5EMY yielded a favorable docking score of -81.48 Kcal mol-1, suggesting that the compound binds to the receptor with high affinity through electrostatic, hydrophobic, and hydrogen bonds. Furthermore, the silico ADME analysis of the compound revealed improved metabolism, a skin permeability of -3.87 cm/s, gastrointestinal absorption of 95.48 %, and a total clearance of 0.984 log ml min-1 kg-1. In silico toxicity analysis also predicted cutaneous irritations but no carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, or hepatotoxicity.

CONCLUSION

The data suggested that the isolated compound (2, 4-tertiary butyl phenol) has the potential to inhibit the alpha-amylase activity and possess optimal ADME properties as well as tolerable side effects.

In silico analysis of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory compounds obtained from soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the major reasons for deaths globally. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) regulates body hypertension and fluid balance which causes CVD. Angiotensin-converting enzyme I (ACE I) is the central Zn-metallopeptidase component of the RAAS playing a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis of the cardiovascular system. The available drugs to treat CVD have many side effects, and thus, there is a need to explore phytocompounds and peptides to be utilized as alternative therapies. Soybean is a unique legume cum oilseed crop with an enriched source of proteins. Soybean extracts serve as a primary ingredient in many drug formulations against diabetes, obesity, and spinal cord-related disorders. Soy proteins and their products act against ACE I which may provide a new scope for the identification of potential scaffolds that can help in the design of safer and natural cardiovascular therapies. In this study, the molecular basis for selective inhibition of 34 soy phytomolecules (especially of beta-sitosterol, soyasaponin I, soyasaponin II, soyasaponin II methyl ester, dehydrosoyasaponin I, and phytic acid) was evaluated using in silico molecular docking approaches and dynamic simulations. Our results indicate that amongst the compounds, beta-sitosterol exhibited a potential inhibitory action against ACE I.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory peptides and isoflavonoids from soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]

Angiotensin-converting enzyme I (ACE I) is a zinc-containing metallopeptidase involved in the renin-angiotensin system (RAAS) that helps in the regulation of hypertension and maintains fluid balance otherwise, which results in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). One of the leading reasons of global deaths is due to CVDs. RAAS also plays a central role in maintaining homeostasis of the CV system. The commercial drugs available to treat CVDs possess several fatal side effects. Hence, phytochemicals like peptides having plant-based origin should be explored and utilized as alternative therapies. Soybean is an important leguminous crop that simultaneously possesses medicinal properties. Soybean extracts are used in many drug formulations for treating diabetes and other disorders and ailments. Soy proteins and its edible products such as tofu have shown potential inhibitory activity against ACE. Thus, this review briefly describes various soy proteins and products that can be used to inhibit ACE thereby providing new scope for the identification of potential candidates that can help in the design of safer and natural treatments for CVDs.

MutMap Approach Enables Rapid Identification of Candidate Genes and Development of Markers Associated With Early Flowering and Enhanced Seed Size in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Globally terminal drought is one of the major constraints to chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) production. Early flowering genotypes escape terminal drought, and the increase in seed size compensates for yield losses arising from terminal drought. A MutMap population for early flowering and large seed size was developed by crossing the mutant line ICC4958-M3-2828 with wild-type ICC 4958. Based on the phenotyping of MutMap population, extreme bulks for days to flowering and 100-seed weight were sequenced using Hi-Seq2500 at 10X coverage. On aligning 47.41 million filtered reads to the CDC Frontier reference genome, 31.41 million reads were mapped and 332,395 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were called. A reference genome assembly for ICC 4958 was developed replacing these SNPs in particular positions of the CDC Frontier genome. SNPs specific for each mutant bulk ranged from 3,993 to 5,771. We report a single unique genomic region on Ca6 (between 9.76 and 12.96 Mb) harboring 31, 22, 17, and 32 SNPs with a peak of SNP index = 1 for low bulk for flowering time, high bulk for flowering time, high bulk for 100-seed weight, and low bulk for 100-seed weight, respectively. Among these, 22 SNPs are present in 20 candidate genes and had a moderate allelic impact on the genes. Two markers, Ca6EF10509893 for early flowering and Ca6HSDW10099486 for 100-seed weight, were developed and validated using the candidate SNPs. Thus, the associated genes, candidate SNPs, and markers developed in this study are useful for breeding chickpea varieties that mitigate yield losses under drought stress.

Genome-Wide SNP Discovery and Mapping QTLs for Seed Iron and Zinc Concentrations in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Biofortification through plant breeding is a cost-effective and sustainable approach towards addressing micronutrient malnutrition prevailing across the globe. Screening cultivars for micronutrient content and identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs)/genes and markers help in the development of biofortified varieties in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). With the aim of identifying the genomic regions controlling seed Fe and Zn concentrations, the F2:3 population derived from a cross between MNK-1 and Annigeri 1 was genotyped using genotyping by sequencing approach and evaluated for Fe and Zn concentration. An intraspecific genetic linkage map comprising 839 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) spanning a total distance of 1,088.04 cM with an average marker density of 1.30 cM was constructed. By integrating the linkage map data with the phenotypic data of the F2:3 population, a total of 11 QTLs were detected for seed Fe concentration on CaLG03, CaLG04, and CaLG05, with phenotypic variation explained ranging from 7.2% (CaqFe3.4) to 13.4% (CaqFe4.2). For seed Zn concentration, eight QTLs were identified on CaLG04, CaLG05, and CaLG08. The QTLs individually explained phenotypic variations ranging between 5.7% (CaqZn8.1) and 13.7% (CaqZn4.3). Three QTLs for seed Fe and Zn concentrations (CaqFe4.4, CaqFe4.5, and CaqZn4.1) were colocated in the "QTL-hotspot" region on CaLG04 that harbors several drought tolerance-related QTLs. We identified genes in the QTL regions that encode iron-sulfur metabolism and zinc-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase activity on CaLG03, iron ion binding oxidoreductase on CaLG04, and zinc-induced facilitator-like protein and ZIP zinc/iron transport family protein on CaLG05. These genomic regions and the associated markers can be used in marker-assisted selection to increase seed Fe and Zn concentrations in agronomically superior chickpea varieties.

Synthesis of some novel 2-substituted-5-[isopropylthiazole] clubbed 1,2,4-triazole and 1,3,4-oxadiazoles as potential antimicrobial and antitubercular agents

In the present study a series of 2-substituted-5-[isopropylthiazole] clubbed 1,2,4-triazole and 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives have been synthesized and characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectral analysis. Synthesized compounds were evaluated for their preliminary cytotoxicity, antimicrobial and antitubercular activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain by broth dilution assay method. Antimycobacterial activity tested against M. tuberculosis indicated that compounds 4b and 6g exhibited twofold enhanced potency than parent compound 1 and the results indicate that some of them exhibited promising activities and they deserve more consideration as potential antitubercular agents. Compound 3c, 4b and 6c exhibited good or moderate antibacterial inhibition and compounds 3h and 7c showed excellent antifungal activity.