Synthesis of the chromone-thiosemicarbazone scaffold as promising α-glucosidase inhibitors: An in vitro and in silico approach toward antidiabetic drug design

Arch Pharm (Weinheim). 2024 Aug;357(8):e2400140. doi: 10.1002/ardp.202400140. Epub 2024 Apr 30.

Abstract

Diabetes is a serious metabolic disorder affecting individuals of all age groups and prevails globally due to the failure of previous treatments. This study aims to address the most prevalent form of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by reporting on the design, synthesis, and in vitro as well as in silico evaluation of chromone-based thiosemicarbazones as potential α-glucosidase inhibitors. In vitro experiments showed that the tested compounds were significantly more potent than the standard acarbose, with the lead compound 3n exhibiting an IC50 value of 0.40 ± 0.02 μM, ~2183-fold higher than acarbose having an IC50 of 873.34 ± 1.67 μM. A kinetic mechanism analysis demonstrated that compound 3n exhibited reversible inhibition of α-glucosidase. To gain deeper insights, in silico molecular docking, pharmacokinetics, and molecular dynamics simulations were conducted for the investigation of the interactions, orientation, stability, and conformation of the synthesized compounds within the active pocket of α-glucosidase.

Keywords: antidiabetic; chromone; molecular dynamic simulations; thiosemicarbazone; α‐glucosidase.

MeSH terms

  • Chromones* / chemical synthesis
  • Chromones* / chemistry
  • Chromones* / pharmacology
  • Computer Simulation
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / drug therapy
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Design*
  • Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors* / chemical synthesis
  • Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors* / chemistry
  • Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors* / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents* / chemical synthesis
  • Hypoglycemic Agents* / chemistry
  • Hypoglycemic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Molecular Docking Simulation*
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Thiosemicarbazones* / chemical synthesis
  • Thiosemicarbazones* / chemistry
  • Thiosemicarbazones* / pharmacology
  • alpha-Glucosidases* / metabolism

Substances

  • Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Chromones
  • alpha-Glucosidases
  • Thiosemicarbazones