Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 25, Issue 10, 2025

Diabetes mellitus (DM) manifests as a complex and chronic metabolic disorder, posing a significant threat to global public health and contributing substantially to mortality rates. It is characterized by elevated blood glucose levels or hyperglycemia and requires effective preventive and therapeutic strategies. One promising approach involves targeting the inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase, key enzymes responsible for carbohydrate hydrolysis. Inhibiting these enzymes proves beneficial in reducing postprandial glucose levels and mitigating postprandial hyperglycemia. However, existing antidiabetic medications are associated with undesirable side effects, highlighting the need to develop new molecules with increased efficacy and reduced side effects. Traditional methods for designing such molecules are often lengthy and costly. To address this, computer-based molecular modeling tools offer a promising approach to evaluate the anti-diabetic activities of chemical compounds. This review aims to compile information on chemical compounds assessed for their anti-diabetic activities through molecular modeling, with a particular focus on the period from 2020 to 2023.

This review explores the transformative impact of AI on drug development and delivery in pharmaceutical sciences, spanning formulation design, real-time monitoring, targeted delivery, and future prospects. The rational design of smart drug carriers, such as AI-optimized liposomes for cancer therapy, optimizes formulations for individual patient needs. AI-driven sensors, exemplified by glucose-monitoring biosensors for diabetics, enable adaptive drug administration, enhancing precision. Despite promises, challenges like biocompatibility, regulations, and ethics persist. Interdisciplinary collaboration and transparent communication are crucial for responsible AI adoption. Anticipated trends include personalized dosage optimization and intelligent nanocarriers. The review underscores AI's potential in reshaping pharmaceuticals for patient-centric care while addressing challenges for widespread adoption.

Halogenated natural products are an important class of secondary metabolites that are widely distributed in nature. The presence of halogen atoms usually enhances the pharmacological activity of the compounds. As a result, halogenated natural products have shown promising pharmacological activities in antibacterial, antitumour, anti-inflammatory and antiplasmodial properties, providing a rich resource for the development of new drugs. To date, more than 62% of halogenated compounds are produced by marine organisms, mainly including marine sponges, algae, corals, fungi and other organisms. In addition, terrestrial microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, also produce halogenated metabolites, which are equally important sources of halogenated natural products. The biosynthesis of halogenated natural products involves the synergistic action of multiple enzymes that efficiently and selectively bind halogen atoms to organic molecules, a process that enhances the biological activity of the compounds. Halogenated natural products have a wide range of uses as important raw materials in the agricultural, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. This paper reviews the progress of research on halogenated compounds and their biosynthesis in recent years, laying the foundation for further utilisation and development of halogenated compounds.

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, poses a significant global health challenge with complicated pathogenesis. Pathological characteristics of AD include increasing loss of cholinergic neurons, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and amyloid beta accumulation. Due to the limited availability of effective therapeutic options with only symptomatic relief and their severe adverse effects, there is a significant need to search and explore new agents for the management of AD. Recently, natural products and/or phytoconstituents of plants have gained notable attention as potential sources of neuroprotective agents due to their diverse chemical constituents, mechanism of action, and relatively safe profiles. In view of this, Glycyrrhiza glabra has been recognized for its several therapeutic properties in traditional medicine systems for centuries. Further, neuroactive phytoconstituents of this plant, including glycyrrhizin, liquiritigenin, isoliquiritigenin, glabridin, and glycyrrhizic acid, exhibit significant pharmacological advantages along with potential neuroprotective effects against AD. Glycyrrhiza glabra and its phytoconstituents have gained significant interest due to its ability to exert a neuroprotective impact by influencing multiple signaling pathways, inhibiting AChE and BACE1 activity, reducing Aβ accumulation, plaque formation, and tau phosphorylation, and quenching the free radical in experimentally-induced AD-like brain. The present review summarizes available in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies that have been performed to evaluate the beneficial neuroprotective effect of Glycyrrhiza glabra and its phytoconstituents against AD-like pathology. Based on available facts, it can be concluded that neuroactive phytoconstituents of Glycyrrhiza glabra could be significant lead molecules for the drug discovery of anti-AD medicines in the future.