IN-SILICO INHIBITION OF FATTY ACID METHYL ESTHERS FROM Monodora tenuifolia SEED OIL AGAINST CHOLESTEROL 24-HYDROXYLASE IN DIABETES

Abstract

: Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by the presence of prolonged hyperglycaemia. The prevalence of diabetes as well as its expensive management options has led to researchers turning their attention to finding alternatives from plants. Mondora tenuifolia commonly known as African Nutmeg belongs to the family Anonaceae. It has been reported to possess several medicinal properties. In this study, Monodora tenuifolia seed oil was subjected to Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS). Six Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAMEs) nmely; methyl linoleate, methyl arachidate, methyl eicosenoate, methyl linolenate, methyl eicosadienoate, methyl eicosadienoate were obtained and their SDF structures were extracted from pubChem. The FAMEs were docked against cholesterol 24-hydroxylase (which maintains cholesterol level by converting cholesterol to hydroxycholesterol) and their relative binding affinities as well as their 2D binding interactions were compared with that of a standard inhibitor (Acarbose). The result indicated a binding affinity of -7.1 kcal/mol for methyl eicosanoate which compared favourably with acarbose (-7.3 kcal/mol). The presence of conventional hydrogen and alkyl bonds may have conferred the high binding affinity on the compound and places it in good stead to be explored further as a suitable inhibitor of the enzyme cholesterol 24-hydroxylase.