Investigation of the inclusions of puerarin and daidzin with beta-cyclodextrin by molecular dynamics simulation

Puerarin and daidzin, two major isoflavonoids of Radix puerariae , are widely adopted in traditional Chinese medicine. Foundational aspects related to separating the two compounds are essential to develop a more economical purification process. Inclusion models of the two compounds with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) have been investigated by molecular dynamics simulation. Computational results reveal that both puerarin and daidzin can induce a conformational change of beta-CD, which is compressed in one direction and stretched in the other. The effect of solvent and media on the conformational change of beta-CD and the movement of guest molecules inside the cavity has been investigated. Furthermore, hydrogen bonding interactions have been analyzed, and the results have been utilized for the explanation of separating puerarin from daidzin.