Cucumis melo var. momordica as a Potent Antidiabetic, Antioxidant and Possible Anticovid Alternative: Investigation through Experimental and Computational Methods

Chem Biodivers. 2022 Sep;19(9):e202200200. doi: 10.1002/cbdv.202200200. Epub 2022 Aug 25.

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a typical life threatening of disease, which generate due to the dysfunction of β cells of pancreas. In 2014, WHO stated that 422 million people were infected with DM. The current pattern of management of diabetes included synthetic or plant based oral hypoglycemic drugs and insulin but drug resentence is become a very big issues in antidiabetic therapy. Thus, it's very earnest to discover now medication for this disease. Now the days, it is well acknowledged that diabetic patients are more prone towards covid and related complications. Thus, medical practitioners reformed the methodology of prescribing medication for covid infected antidiabetic therapy and encouraging the medication contains dual pharmacological properties. It is also well know that polyphenols specifically hold a significant role in oxidative stress and reduced the severity of many inflammatory diseases. Cucumis melo has rich history as ethano-pharmacological use in Indian subcontinent. The fruit and seed are well-known for the treatment of various diseases due to the presence of phenolics. Therefore, in this study, the combined mixture of flower and seeds were used for the extraction of polyphenolic rich extract and tested for antidiabetic activity through the antioxidant and in vivo experiments. The antioxidant potential measurement exhibited that the selected plant extract has the significant competence to down-regulate oxidative stress (DPPH scavenging IC50 at 60.7±1.05 μg/mL, ABTS IC50 at 62.15±0.50 μg/mL). Furthermore, the major polyphenolic phyto-compounds derived from the Cucumis melo were used for in silico anticovid activity, docking, and complementarity studies. The anticovid activity prognosis reflected that selected phyto-compounds amentoflavone and vanillic acid have optimal possibility to interact with 3C-like protease and through this moderate anticovid activity can be exhibit. The docking experiments established that the selected compounds have propensity to interact with protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B, 11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase β-glucuronidase receptor. In vivo experiments showed that 500 mg/kg, Cucumis melo extract ominously amplified body weight, plasma insulin, high-density lipoprotein levels, and biochemical markers. Furthermore, extract significantly downregulate the blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and very low-density lipoprotein.

Keywords: Cucumis melo var. momordica; anticovid activity; antidiabetic activity; complementarity study; molecular docking; oxidative stress.

MeSH terms

  • 11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use
  • Biomarkers
  • Blood Glucose
  • COVID-19*
  • Catalase / metabolism
  • Cholesterol
  • Cucumis melo* / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental* / metabolism
  • Glucuronidase
  • Glutathione Peroxidase / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Insulin
  • Lipoproteins, HDL / therapeutic use
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / therapeutic use
  • Momordica* / metabolism
  • Peptide Hydrolases
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism
  • Triglycerides
  • Vanillic Acid

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Biomarkers
  • Blood Glucose
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Insulin
  • Lipoproteins, HDL
  • Lipoproteins, LDL
  • Plant Extracts
  • Triglycerides
  • Cholesterol
  • 11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases
  • Catalase
  • Glutathione Peroxidase
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1
  • Glucuronidase
  • Peptide Hydrolases
  • Vanillic Acid