Docking and SAR studies of salacinol derivatives as α-glucosidase inhibitors

Salacinol is a potent α-glucosidase inhibitor isolated from Salacia reticulata, and a good lead compound for an antidiabetic drug. It is essential to clarify the binding state of salacinol to α-glucosidase for efficient optimization study using structure-based drug design. Redocking simulations of two inhibitors, acarbose and casuarine whose complex structures are known, were performed to assure the appropriate docking pose prediction. The simulation reproduced both experimental binding states with accuracy. Then, using the same simulation protocol, the binding mode of salacinol and its derivatives has been predicted. Salacinol bound to the protein with a similar binding mode as casuarine, and the predicted structures could explain most of the structure-activity relationships of salacinol derivatives.