Phytochemical and In-Silico Analysis of the Potent Antidiabetic Compound from Cactus (Opuntia ficus–indica) cladode

The present investigation aimed to identify the bioactive compounds in Opuntia ficus cladode and their pharmaceutical importance, which was evaluated through phytochemical and in-silico screening. The cladode’s phytochemical screening revealed alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, phenols, proteins, terpenoids,glycosides, steroids, saponins etc. A total of 25 compounds were identified in the gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, and an active metabolite 2-Thophene carboxylic acid-5methyl was selected for in-silico docking study againstfour human protein targets namely, Human Estrogen receptor (PDB ID: 3ERT) (anti-cancer), HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (PDB ID: 4CC8) (anti-HIV), Human C-reactive protein (PDB ID: 1GNH) (anti-inflammation) and Human 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I (11beta-HSD1) (PDB ID: 1XU7) (anti-diabetes) respectively via Schrodinger version 9.3. Among the four target proteins, the potent inhibition observed against Human 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I (11beta-HSD1) (PDB ID: 1XU7) is involved in type 2 diabetes. Therefore, Opuntia ficuscladodes can be explored in managing type 2 diabetes.