Inhibitory effect of hesperetin on α-glucosidase: Molecular dynamics simulation integrating inhibition kinetics

The α-glucosidase inhibitor is of interest to researchers due to its association with type-2 diabetes treatment. Hesperetin is a flavonoid with natural antioxidant properties. This paper presents an evaluation on the effects of hesperetin on α-glucosidase via inhibitory kinetics using a Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation integration method. Due to the antioxidant properties of hesperetin, it reversibly inhibits α-glucosidase in a slope-parabolic mixed-type manner (IC₅₀=0.38±0.05mM; K_slope=0.23±0.01mM), accompanied by tertiary structural changes. Based on computational MD and docking simulations, two hesperetin rings interact with several residues near the active site on the α-glucosidase, such as Lys155, Asn241, Glu304, Pro309, Phe311 and Arg312. This study provides insight into the inhibition of α-glucosidase by binding hesperetin onto active site residues and accompanying structural changes. Hesperetin presents as a potential agent for treating α-glucosidase-associated type-2 diabetes based on its α-glucosidase-inhibiting effect and its potential as a natural antioxidant.