Molecular Docking Studies of Coumarin Derivatives as DPPIV Inhibitors and Anti-Diabetic Agents: Towards Novel Approaches in Drug Discovery
Received: 28-Jul-2023 / Manuscript No. IJRDPL-23-108427 / Editor assigned: 31-Jul-2023 / PreQC No. IJRDPL-23-108427 (PQ) / Reviewed: 16-Aug-2023 / QC No. IJRDPL-23-108427 / Revised: 16-Jan-2025 / Manuscript No. IJRDPL-23-108427 (R) / Published Date: 23-Jan-2025
Abstract
This study presents the synthesis and evaluation of a series of coumarin derivatives, both standalone and in combination with cinnamic acid, for their potential as Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV (DPPIV) inhibitors and anti-diabetic agents. The compounds were synthesized using established methods and subsequently assessed for their inhibitory activity against DPPIV, a key enzyme involved in glucose regulation. Molecular docking studies were conducted to validate the binding affinity of the compounds with the target protein. The results demonstrated that the synthesized coumarin derivatives exhibited significant DPPIV inhibition and displayed promising anti-diabetic activity. The molecular docking studies supported and reinforced these findings by confirming the favorable binding interactions between the compounds and the DPPIV protein. These results highlight the potential of coumarin derivatives as therapeutic agents for managing diabetes. The findings from this study contribute to the growing body of research on coumarin derivatives and their therapeutic potential. The anti-diabetic activity of these compounds, coupled with their DPPIV inhibitory effects, suggests their potential as effective agents in the treatment of diabetes. These results warrant further exploration and investigation to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action and to optimize the structure-activity relationship of coumarin derivatives. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the synthesis and evaluation of coumarin derivatives as DPPIV inhibitors and anti-diabetic agents. The molecular docking studies provide valuable insights into the binding interactions of these compounds with the target protein. The promising results obtained from this research support further studies aimed at harnessing the cytotoxic properties of coumarin derivatives for therapeutic applications in the field of drug discovery.
Keywords: Coumarin derivatives; Anti-diabetic; DPPIV inhibitors; Docking; Drug discovery
Introduction
Diabetes
A category of illnesses known as diabetes are characterized by elevated blood glucose levels. When a person has diabetes, their body is either unable to use its own insulin efficiently or does not create enough insulin. Blood glucose levels rise, which results in a condition that, if left untreated, can have major health consequences and even be fatal [1]. A person with diabetes has twice as high a risk of dying as a person of same age who does not have the disease. A metabolic condition known as Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is characterized by hyperglycemia, glycosuria, hyperlipidemia, a negative nitrogen balance and occasionally ketoacemia. a common pathogenic [2]. Vascular problems include lumen narrowing, early atherosclerosis, sclerosis of glomerular capillaries, retinopathy, neuropathy and peripheral vascular insufficiency are caused by changes in the capillary basement membrane, an increase in vessel wall matrix and cellular proliferation [3].
Diabetes mellitus is a clinical condition with a wide range of etiologies. Idiopathic and secondary diabetes mellitus are the two primary subtypes.
• Type 1 diabetic insulin depenedent
• Type 2 diabetes, also known as Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) [4].
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a serious worldwide public health concern since it is a common and escalating disorder. The international diabetes federation estimates that 387 million individuals worldwide have been diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes was diagnosed in 29.1 million adults in the United States in 2012, or 9.3% of the population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP US). Additionally, 86 million people had pre-diabetes that year and 15%-30% of them went on to acquire full-blown diabetes [5]. Generally speaking, 1.4 million newly diagnosed cases are recorded in the US each year. One in three Americans will have diabetes in 2050, according to projections, if this trend keeps up. Patients with diabetes are more likely to experience it [6].
A catalytic enzyme called glucosidase breaks down complicated carbohydrates into easily absorbed sugars. Hypoglycemia medications slow down the rate of simple carbohydrate digestion and absorption in the intestine by inhibiting glucosidase [7]. Acarbose, miglitol, voglibose and anavan are a few of the α-glucosidase inhibitors that are therapeutically utilized for type 2 diabetes. Aside from that, glucosidase inhibitors are beneficial biotools used in the treatment of diseases including hyperlipoproteinemia, obesity and cancer. In addition, glucosidase inhibitors have been seen to aid in the prevention of HIV [8].
Coumarin
Coumarin are a class of organic compounds found in plants. They have a distinctive ring structure and are known for their aroma and flavor. Coumarin possess various biological activities, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties [9]. They are used in the perfume and food industries and some derivatives are used as pharmaceutical drugs. However, certain coumarin can be toxic in high doses [10]. Overall, coumarin have diverse applications and are the subject of ongoing research. Coumarin have been investigated for their potential as antidiabetic agents due to their diverse pharmacological properties. Several studies have shown that certain coumarin derivatives exhibit promising antidiabetic activity [11]. Here are some key points regarding coumarin as antidiabetic agents:
Coumarins have been found to possess glucose-lowering effects by various mechanisms. They can enhance glucose uptake by cells, increase insulin sensitivity, stimulate insulin secretion, and inhibit certain enzymes involved in glucose metabolism. Insulin mimetic activity: Some coumarin have been shown to mimic the action of insulin, promoting glucose uptake and utilization by cells [12]. This insulin mimetic activity can help regulate blood glucose levels in individuals with diabetes. Protection of pancreatic beta cells: Pancreatic beta cells play a crucial role in insulin production. Coumarin have been reported to protect these beta cells from damage, enhance their survival, and promote insulin secretion [13].
Coumarin can modulate various enzymes involved in glucose metabolism, such as glucokinase, glucose 6-phosphatase and glycogen synthase. By regulating these enzymes, coumarins can help maintain normal glucose levels in the body. It's important to note that while coumarin show potential as antidiabetic agents, further research is still needed to establish their efficacy, safety and optimal usage. Additionally, the use of coumarins for diabetes management should be done under the guidance of healthcare professionals. Overall, coumarin hold promise as a class of compounds for the development of novel antidiabetic agents, and ongoing studies continue to explore their potential in this field [14].
Chemistry
Coumarin is an aromatic organic compound with the chemical formula C9H6O2. It is a lactone and can be derived from the natural product coumarin [15]. Coumarin has a pleasant sweet aroma and is often used in the fragrance and flavoring industries. It is found in many plants, including tonka beans, cassia cinnamon, and woodruff, which explains its use in various culinary applications [16].
It's important to differentiate between coumarin, a naturally occurring and synthetic compound used in the fragrance and flavoring industries, and coumarin, which may be a misspelling or a term with a different context. If you were referring to a specific compound or have additional questions about coumarin, feel free to ask for more information.
The chemical structure of coumarin consists of a benzene ring fused with an alpha-pyrone ring. The lactone ring is responsible for its aromatic nature and characteristic odor [17]. Coumarin is found in various plants as a natural product. However, it's important to note that synthetic coumarin is often used in the fragrance and flavor industries due to its cost effective production [18]. Coumarin's sweet smell is reminiscent of freshly cut hay or vanilla. It is widely used in perfumes, colognes, and other scented products. In the flavoring industry, coumarin is employed to add a vanilla-like taste to various foods and beverages [19]. Historically, coumarin has been used in traditional medicine due to its anticoagulant properties. However, it is no longer used for this purpose because of its potential side effects and the availability of more effective and safer anticoagulant medications [20]. While coumarin is generally recognized as safe for use in small quantities as a flavoring agent, it can be harmful in high doses. Ingesting large amounts of coumarin may lead to liver toxicity and other health issues. As a result, regulatory authorities limit the use of coumarin in food products [21]. Chemists have synthesized numerous coumarin derivatives with various substitutions on the aromatic ring. Some of these derivatives have demonstrated interesting biological activities and are of interest in pharmaceutical research.
Docking
The use of molecular docking studies has been one of the most important and essential techniques for discovering new drugs. It allows for the prediction of the molecular interactions that bind and maintain the bond between a protein and a ligand. A brief overview of molecular docking, along with the methodologies that are now available, their development and applications in drug discovery, have been provided in this chapter. Also presented are the relevant fundamental theories, such as sampling methods and scoring functions. The comparison of various molecular docking strategies, particularly those that take receptor backbone flexibility into account, has also been discussed. The final section of the document includes a solved practical exercise and a thorough overview of the protocol to follow, considering the importance of applying such tools and techniques [22].
Materials and Methods
Docking of derivative of coumarin
The protein structure of selected targets (spike protein and protease) was downloaded and verified from Protein Data Bank (PDB) database. The receptor (target) optimization and preparation were done using Argus lab [23]. The lead molecules both synthetic and natural were drawn using chemdraw ultra and converted to 3D and PDB format using chem bio 3D ultra. Docking of the drugs carried out by Argus lab and visualization of docked molecules was done equipping Biovia visualizer and so 2D and 3D poses were generated.
Method
Protein preparation: The protein structure of Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV (DPPIV) Inhibitors (2RGU) were obtained from RCSB Protein Data Bank, both were derived by X-Ray diffraction method and have the resolution of 2.60 Å appropriately. The proteins were then further processed by eliminating all water molecules and other residues, and the empty spaces were replaced with hydrogen. This was followed by protein optimization.
Ligand preparation: The structures of derived molecules of s were drawn using chem draw professional 16.0 and converted from 2D to 3D by chembio 3D 12.0. The MMFF (Merck Molecular Force Field) procedure, which enables the ligands to achieve the lowest feasible free energy for improved binding, was used to further enhance these structures.
Docking: Using Argus lab version 4.0.1, the synthesized ligands were molecularly docked with the chosen proteins. According to the docking data, we can see the docking score G (free energy) and the amino acids that contributed to the formation of the hydrogen bond between the ligand and the target protein. We illuminate the synthesized ligand's binding effectiveness and affinity using these metrics.
Ligand-protein complex poses optimization: Using the biovia visualizer, the interaction between ligands and proteins was seen in both 2D and 3D models. The 3D pose reveals the location and spatial arrangement of the ligand molecule and binding site, while the 2D diagram of ligand interaction depicts the many forces operating on the ligand molecule, such as hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, steric hinderence, etc.
Results And Discussion
Docking score of derivative of coumarin (Tables 1 and 2).
Molecule | Structure | Docking score | Hydrogen bond | Amino acid |
---|---|---|---|---|
CU1 | ![]() |
-9.13879 | 2.887353 2.899936 |
358 ARG 669 ARG 206 GLU 357 PHE 630 SER 659 TRP 547 TYR 631 TYR 662 TYR 666 TYR 656 VAL 711 VAL |
CU2 | ![]() |
-9.8735 | 2.925626 1.996125 |
564 ALA 562 ASN 545 ASP 543 LEU 567 LEU 563 TRP 672 TRP 48 TYR 752 TYR 575 VAL |
CU3 | ![]() |
-11.4578 | 2.901342 2.691797 2.732471 2.624061 |
669 ARG 710 ASN 632 GLY 740 HIS 357 PHE 630 SER 629 TRP 659TRP 547 TYR 631 TYR 662 TYR 666 TYR 670 TYR 656 VAL 711 VAL |
CU4 | ![]() |
-9.60024 | 2.566374 2.899341 2.914592 |
564 ALA 562 ASN 545 ASP 628 GLY 632 GLY 748 HIS 543 LEU 567 LEU 563 TRP 627 TRP 629 TRP 48 TYR 547 TYR 752 TYR 546 VAL 575 VAL |
CU5 | ![]() |
-9.94455 | 2.900040 2.471755 2.895327 2.637442 |
205 GLU 206 GLU 549 GLY 357 PHE 550 PRO 659 TRP 547 TYR 631 TYR 662 TYR 666 TYR 656 VAL |
CU6 | ![]() |
-10.0602 | 2.778843 2.899966 2.481094 |
125 ARG 715 GLN 205 GLN 206 GLN 357 PHE 630 SER 659 TRP 547 TYR 631 TYR 634 TYR 662 TYR 666 TYR 656 VAL 711 VAL |
CU7 | ![]() |
-10.7288 | 2.193550 2,825780 |
1360 GLY 1085 PHE 1358 SER 1387 TRP 1357 TRP 1275 TYR 1359 TYR 1390 TYR 1394 TYR 1384 VAL |
CU8 | ![]() |
-10.8752 | N/A | 453 ARG 560 ARG 501 ASP 476 GLY 477 LEU 504 LEU 561 LEU 512 LYS 509 MET 559 PHE 510 PRO |
CU9 | ![]() |
-9.13879 | 2.696973 2.915285 2.756683 2.893610 2.825194 |
669 ARG 206 GLU 630 SER 659 TRP 504 LEU 561 LEU 547 TYR 631 TYR 662 TYR 666 TYR 656 VAL |
CU10 | ![]() |
-9.7656 | 2.899638 2.967203 |
631 TYR 634 TYR 662 TYR 666 TYR 656 VAL 711 VAL |
CU11 | ![]() |
-10.4578 | 2.754970 2.682085 2.890761 2.787164 2.404071 |
206 GLU 630 SER 667 THR 659 TRP 547 TYR 631 TYR 662 TYR 666 TYR 656 VAL 711 VAL |
CU12 | ![]() |
-9.60024 | 2.897973 2.815685 2.855683 2.653600 2.325144 |
669 ARG 206 GLU 630 SER 659 TRP 547 TYR 631 TYR 662 TYR 666 TYR 656 VAL |
CU13 | ![]() |
-9.94455 | 2.721251 2.766984 2.688007 2.456440 2.865302 |
707 ALA 713 PHE 239 SER 706 THR 734 TRP 238 TYR 241 TYR 967 SER 1434 THR 1462 TRP 966 TYR 969 TYR |
CU14 | ![]() |
-10.0602 | 2.8999984 2.268819 |
710 ASN 740 HIS 598 LEU 550 PRO 630 SER 659 TRP 547 TYR 631 TYR 662 TYR 666 TYR 656 VAL 711 VAL |
CU15 | ![]() |
-10.7288 | 2.999911 2.403775 2.208515 |
125 ARG 669 ARG 710 ASN 205 GLU 357 PHE 630 SER 659 TRP 631 TYR 662 TYR 666 TYR 670 TYR 656 VAL 711 VAL |
Table 1: Docking score of coumarin derivative of 5ZCC in Argus lab.
Molecule | Structure | Docking score | Hydrogen bond | Amino acid |
---|---|---|---|---|
CU3 | ![]() |
-11.4578 | 2.901342 2.691797 2.732471 2.624061 |
669 ARG 710 ASN 632 GLY 740 HIS 357 PHE 630 SER 629 TRP 659 TRP 547 TYR 631 TYR 662 TYR 666 TYR 670 TYR 656 VAL 711 VAL |
SITAGLIPTIN | ![]() |
-8.35498 | 2.997917 2.254146 |
358 ARG 549 GLY 357 PHE 550 PRO 209 SER 630 SER 659 TRP 547 TYR 631 TYR 662 TYR 666 TYR 670 TYR 656 VAL |
Table 2: Comparison of docking result with standard molecule.
Docking pose
The docking pose results shows in Figures 1 and 2.
Conclusion
In the Putative Binding site of the DPP 4 Receptor (PDB code 2RGU), which exposes a sizable region limited by a membranebinding domain that acts as an entry conduit for substrate to the active site, the acquired results showed that all analysed ligands had comparable positions and orientations. Additionally, every small molecule's affinity may be thought of as a special instrument in the field of medication development. The affinity of organic compounds and the free energy of binding are correlated. This connection can help in predicting and interpreting how organic chemicals will function on a particular target protein. Additionally, it was demonstrated that receptor shape influences how a medication behaves. Researchers have a chance to find novel acting compounds that might be employed as new therapy choices for diabetes according to the current investigation.
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Citation: Sahu L, Mishra A, Sharma G, Verma VS, Sahu G (2025) Molecular Docking Studies of Coumarin Derivatives as DPPIV Inhibitors and Anti-Diabetic Agents: Towards Novel Approaches in Drug Discovery. Int J Res Dev Pharm L Sci 10: 201.
Copyright: © 2025 Sahu L, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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