LC-ESI-MS analysis, antioxidant, anti-diabetic and molecular docking studies on Corchorus depressus (L.) C.Chr.

The present study encompasses the ethnomedicinal consumption of Corchorus depressus (L.) C.Chr. ( C. depressus ) for diabetes. Samples were subjected to LC-ESI-MS analyses. The n -hexane, methanolic and water extracts were screened for α-glucosidase inhibition and in vivo anti-diabetic studies. Further, antioxidant (DPPH) and anti-inflammatory study was performed via luminol-enhanced chemi-luminescence assay. The identified compounds were docked against the target enzymes of diabetes. The n -hexane fraction (CD-J1) showed IC 50 of 8.4 ± 0.1 µg/mL against α-glucosidase enzyme. The sub fractions CD-12 and CD-13 of CD-J1 obtained after flash column chromatography displayed further reduced IC 50 values of 4.3 ± 0.1 and 6.3 ± 0.1, respectively, as compared with standard drug acarbose (IC 50 values of 37.5 ± 0.2 µg/mL). Simultaneously, dereplication of most active sub-fraction CD-12 by LC-ESI-MS led to the identification of strophanthidin and some other active metabolites responsible for anti-diabetic activity. Molecular docking of strophanthidin with α-glucosidase and α-amylase revealed high affinity for these target enzymes.