In silico and in vitro evidence on the anti-diabetic effect of grandidentatin from Salix acmophylla Boiss

Current pharmacological treatments against diabetes do not reach optimal results in many conditions, and the attention of medicinal chemists is currently dedicated to multi-target compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties. In this connection, medicinal plants represent valuable sources. Grandidentatin is a phenolic glycoside isolated from the leaves of Salix acmophylla Boiss., and in the current study its anti-inflammatory activity was investigated in vitro through red blood cells membrane stabilization and protein denaturation assays, and it was comparable to that of the positive control diclofenac sodium. Additionally grandidentatin was effective in the glucose uptake assay, used to assess the blood sugar lowering action, in the same concentration range of metformin. Computational studies were also enrolled to investigate the physico-chemical properties and the mechanism of action, showing that the molecule possesses the features to be defined as a “drug-like” compound, and that it may target aldose reductase as observed by docking studies.