Characterization and Computational Validation of Morin as an Antidiabetic Flavonoid: A Combined Experimental and Docking Study

Abstract

Among the non-communicable diseases, diabetes mellitus (DM) stands next to cardiovascular diseases and cancer in terms of mortality. The commonness of T2DM is increasing alarmingly worldwide and its incidence is closely linked to genetic and environmental factors. T2DM accounts for more than 90% of the diabetic population. Though, several drugs are commercially available to maintain normoglycemia in diabetic individuals through different mechanisms of action. However, most of them prompt undesirable chronic side effects and attenuation after prolonged use. The traditional medicinal plants serve as a potential source for the identification of lead molecules for the development of successful drugs. Morin, a pentahydroxyflavone, is an important phytochemical in many plants belonging to the Moraceae family (M. alba) and this flavonol is found in several medicinal plants including Psidium guajava (Myrtaceae), Maclura pomifera and Maclura tinctoria (Moraceae). In the present study, an attempt has been made to isolate and identify the phytochemicals from Morin, the traditionally known medicinal plant Guava leaves, extract using suitable solvent extraction followed by HPLC separation. The individual phytochemicals isolated were characterized by spectral studies such as FT-IR, ¹³C NMR, ¹H NMR and Mass spectral studies. Since the above plants have been traditionally used for the treatment of diabetes and its related complications, the present study was designed to evaluate their antidiabetic properties using in silico docking studies by choosing important targets such as Aldose reductase, Glycogen phosphorylase, Glycogen synthase, Phosphoenolpyruvate kinase and Glucokinase.