Structure-Activity Relationship Study Reveals Benzazepine Derivatives of Luteolin as New Aldose Reductase Inhibitors for Diabetic Cataract

Hyperglycaemia in diabetic patients causes diverse range of complications and the earliest among them is diabetic cataract. The role of aldose reductase, the key enzyme in polyol pathway, is well known in the genesis of cataract in chronic diabetic patients. Controlling of sorbitol flux into lens epithelial cells through aldose reductase inhibitors is an important treatment strategy. Due to the side effects of many drugs so far developed, the development of aldose reductase inhibitors from natural sources has gained considerable attention. This study was undertaken to identify suitable drugs for diabetic cataract using molecular modeling and simulation methods. A series of 18 luteolin derivatives having in vitro inhibitory potential against aldose reductase was used to develop a common pharmacophore hypothesis AHRRR and atom-based 3D-QSAR model. The model was used for virtual screening of ZINC database and the resultant hits were docked against aldose reductase. The two drug candidates which belonged to benzazepine class of drugs scored high in the molecular docking. They were further examined for their activity and pharmacokinetic behaviour. Their druglikeness behaviour was found suitable to be used as drugs as per Lipinski's rule of five criteria. Human intestinal absorption (HIA), skin permeability (SP), blood brain barrier (BBB) penetration and plasma protein binding (PPB) was found to be in the acceptable range. Based on the results, these drugs could be considered as potential candidates in further drug development against diabetic cataract.