Unveiling the therapeutic potential of artopetelin flavonoids through computational approaches as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-delta (PPARδ) agonists

Diabetes mellitus is a growing global health concern, with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-delta (PPARδ) emerging as a promising therapeutic target due to its role in glucose regulation. Flavonoids, a class of plant-derived bioactive compounds, are known for their anti-diabetic properties. The present study aims to explore the potential of artopetelin flavonoids as PPARδ activators using a range of computational approaches. Molecular docking (MD) calculations identified six artopetelin ligands with binding affinities surpassing those of the native ligand (−10.4 kcal/mol) and the reference drugs such as elafibranor (−10.0 kcal/mol) and seladelpar (−9.8 kcal/mol). The highest binding affinity was obtained for artopetelin A, with a value of −11.8 kcal/mol. All candidates, except artopetelin B, were bound at the receptor's catalytic site, suggesting potential for competitive activation. Molecular dynamics simulations (MDS) of the top five complexes revealed structural stability, with consistent root mean square deviation (RMSD) profiles and stable hydrogen bonding patterns. Gibbs free energy changes (ΔG_BFE < 0) confirmed the sustained thermodynamic spontaneity of complex formation reactions where the values ranged from −39.88 to −26.66 kcal/mol. Pharmacokinetic predictions via pkCSM indicated favorable drug-likeness and ADMET profiles. These preliminary in silico findings highlight the strong potential of top five artopetelin flavonoids as PPARδ activators for type 2 diabetes management, underscoring their promise as plant-derived therapeutic agents and warranting further experimental validation.