Computational identification of Commiphora phytocompounds targeting Aldose reductase and TNF-α in diabetic neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes, leading to nerve damage and severe pain. The phytocompounds synthesised from medicinal plants have shown potential therapeutic effects on diabetic neuropathy. In this study, we have investigated the effect of phytocompounds identified in Commiphora sp. on two key proteins involved in diabetic neuropathy Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) (PDB ID: 1TNF) and Aldose Reductase (PDB ID: 2FZB). A total of 23 (2-methoxy furanodiene, α -copaene, α -humulene, α-pinene, β- elemene, β-Pinene, β -selinene, camphene, camphorene, cembrane, cholestene, curzerene, cycloartane, dammarane, e-guggulsterone, germacrene, limonene, myrcene, oleanane, pregnane, pregnenolone, ursane, z-guggulsterone) phyto-chemical compounds from Commiphora were screened for binding affinity to TNF-α (PDB ID: 1TNF) and Aldose Reductase (PDB ID: 2FZB). Based on pharmacokinetic properties, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations, two best scoring molecules were selected for further analysis. Docking analysis showed that Z-guggulsterone had the strongest binding affinity for Aldose Reductase ( -12.21 kcal/mol), which was better than E-guggulsterone ( -9.84 kcal/mol) and even the control inhibitor Ranirestat ( -10.48 kcal/mol). A molecular dynamics simulation lasting 200 ns confirmed that the complexes were stable. The Aldose Reductase ligand systems had low RMSD fluctuations (< 0.3 nm) and stable energy profiles. The MMPBSA analysis backed up these results, showing that Z-guggulsterone had the best binding free energy (- 9.83 ± 12.80 kJ/mol). The Free Energy Landscape (FEL) and PCA analysis also showed clear low-energy basins, which means that the conformational states stayed stable during the whole simulation. The study aimed to explore the interaction, binding affinity, and stability of these compounds with the target proteins, providing insight into their therapeutic potential.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40203-026-00595-7.