Identification of phytoconstituents from Houttuynia cordata Thunb. as dipeptidyl peptidase-IV and sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors guided by molecular docking

Abstract

PurposeHouttuynia cordata Thunb. is an edible medicinal herb belonging to the Saururaceae family. Although the effects of the plant extracts on several diabetic-related parameters have been documented in the past, there is no documentation of the effects of this plant on sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 or dipeptidyl peptidase-IV- key drug targets for type 2 diabetes. The present study identified and screened phytoconstituents present in H. cordata Thunb. and characterized their ADME/Tox properties. The compounds present in aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of H. cordata Thunb. were identified using High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography, and Gas Chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Compounds obeying the Lipinski's Rule of 5 and having high gastrointestinal absorption were then selected and docked with dipeptidyl peptidase-IV and sodium/glucose cotransporter 2. ResultsChromatographic analysis showed the presence of several compounds by matching their recorded spectra with the data bank mass spectra from the NIST library. ADME/Tox properties and docking of the identified compounds indicate the potentiality of the compounds as antidiabetic drug candidates. ConclusionsThe compounds from Houttuynia cordata have good binding affinities to peptidase-IV and sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 and can therefore be used as their inhibitors. However, isolation of these phytoconstituents and their in vivo activity will help give a better insight and will open a new area of investigation of individual components and their pharmacological potency.