Microalgae as a potential sustainable solution to environment health

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Computational Chemistry
• Metabolic Disorders

Background:

• Cyanobacteria, like Spirulina platensis, produce valuable biomolecules while consuming CO2, offering environmental benefits and potential applications in pharmaceuticals.
• Wastewater cultivation of cyanobacteria presents a sustainable source for bioactive compounds.
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains a significant global health challenge, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To computationally screen cyanobacterial pigments as potential therapeutic agents for type 2 diabetes.
• To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the antidiabetic potential of selected cyanobacterial pigments using molecular docking.
• To compare the binding affinities of these pigments with established antidiabetic drugs.

Main Methods:

• Molecular docking simulations were employed to assess the binding interactions of cyanobacterial pigments with target enzymes relevant to T2DM.
• The binding affinities of pheophytin, β-carotene, and phycocyanobilin were evaluated against α-amylase, α-glucosidase, dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV), and Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD).
• Comparisons were made with the binding affinities of commercial drugs: acarbose, linagliptin, and polydatin.

Main Results:

• Pheophytin, β-carotene, and phycocyanobilin exhibited higher binding affinities to α-amylase and α-glucosidase compared to acarbose.
• β-carotene and phycocyanobilin showed superior binding affinity to DPP-IV compared to linagliptin.
• These pigments demonstrated competitive inhibition against α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and DPP-IV, and uncompetitive inhibition against G6PD, with affinities exceeding those of polydatin for G6PD.

Conclusions:

• Cyanobacterial pigments, specifically pheophytin, β-carotene, and phycocyanobilin, possess significant potential as antidiabetic agents for T2DM.
• Molecular docking provides a valuable screening tool for identifying novel drug candidates from natural sources like cyanobacteria.
• Integrated approaches combining computational and experimental studies (in vitro, in vivo) are crucial for validating and developing these compounds into effective T2DM therapeutics.