Identifying the alpha-glucosidase inhibitory potential of dietary phytochemicals against diabetes mellitus type 2 via molecular interactions and dynamics simulation

The research aims to identify the inhibitory potential of natural dietary phytochemicals against non-insulinotropic target protein alpha-glucosidase and its possible implications to diabetes mellitus type 2. A data set of sixteen plant-derived dietary molecules viz., 4,5-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone, apigenin, bromelain, caffeic acid, cholecalciferol, dihydrokaempferol 7-o-glucopyranoside, galactomannan, genkwanin, isoimperatorin, luteolin, luteolin 7-o-glucoside, neohesperidin, oleanoic acid, pelargonidin-3-rutinoside, quercetin, and quinic acid were taken to accomplish molecular docking succeeded by their comparison with known inhibitors including acarbose, miglitol, voglibose, emiglitate, and 1-deoxynojirimycin. Among all phyto-compounds, bromelain (ΔG: -9.54 kcal/mol), cholecalciferol (-8.47 kcal/mol), luteolin (-9.02 kcal/mol), and neohesperidin (-8.53 kcal/mol) demonstrated better binding interactions with alpha-glucosidase in comparison to the best-known inhibitor, acarbose (ΔG: -7.93 kcal/mol). Molecular dynamics simulation of 10 ns duration, CYP450 site of metabolism identification, and prediction of activity spectra for substances depicted the bromelain as the most stable inhibitor compared to luteolin and acarbose. Findings of molecular interactions, molecular dynamics study, metabolism, and biological activity prediction proved bromelain as a potential alpha-glucosidase inhibitor. Thus, bromelain might be helpful as an insulin-independent therapeutic molecule towards controlling and managing diabetes mellitus type 2.