Isoflavonol glycoside: a natural dihydroflavonol glycoside with multiple pharmacological activities
1. Overview
Isoastilbin, also known as a dihydroflavonol glycoside compound, has a CAS number of 54081-48-0, a molecular formula of C21H22O11, and a molecular weight of approximately 450.40 g/mol. As a natural active product, it is mainly isolated from various medicinal plants, such as those commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine Huangqiye Engelhardtia Roxburghiana and Astragalus(Astrolus membranaceus) and Smilax glabra Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae and others. In recent years, with the deepening of natural product chemistry and pharmacology research, isosorbide has attracted much attention due to its wide range of biological activities. Existing research reveals that it not only has significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory Characteristic and can effectively suppress Glucosyltransferase(GTase) and tyrosinase The activity of tyrosinase, with an IC50 value of 54.3 μ g/mL for inhibiting GTase. In addition, isoflavones also exhibit neuroprotection、antimicrobial and anti-apoptotic Wait for multiple pharmacological effects to make it Alzheimer disease、Inflammatory diseases and Skin pigmentation It has significant value in research in related fields. This article will systematically expound the scientific connotation and application potential of this compound from its chemical structure, plant origin, pharmacological mechanism, medicinal evaluation, and research prospects.
2. Chemical structure and physicochemical properties
The chemical structure of isosorbide belongs to the class of dihydroflavonol glycosides, and its SMILES is expressed as: C [C @ @ H] 1O C@@HC@HC@H[C@H]1O。 This structure indicates that the compound is composed of a dihydroflavonol core (i.e. flavan-3-ol structure) connected to a sugar group (usually glucose) through a glycosidic bond, and there are multiple chiral centers in the molecule, giving it a specific stereoconfiguration. This structural feature is closely related to its biological activity, for example, the sugar moiety may affect its water solubility and target recognition ability.
From the perspective of physicochemical properties, the molecular weight (MW) of isosorbide is 450.3960 g/mol, slightly higher than the common range for small molecule drugs (usually<500 Da), but still within an acceptable range. Its topological polar surface area (TPSA) is 186.3700 Å ², which reflects the presence of multiple hydroxyl (- OH) and glycosidic bonds in the molecule, leading to strong polarity and potentially affecting its transmembrane permeability. The coefficient of lipophilicity (LogP) is 0.4966 and the LogD is 0.3458, indicating that the compound has moderate lipophilicity and tends towards a hydrophilic environment. The water solubility parameter is 3.9382 (usually measured in mg/mL or log mol/L), indicating a certain solubility in water, which is beneficial for formulation development. Taking all these parameters into consideration, isosorbide is in line with Lipinski's Five Rules Most of the conditions in the study (such as MW<500, number of hydrogen bond donors<5, number of hydrogen bond acceptors<10), but higher TPSA may pose a challenge to its oral bioavailability and require further optimization.
3. Plant sources and traditional applications
One of the main plant sources of isoflavones is Huangqiye(Engelhardtia roxburghiana), Belonging to the Juglandaceae family. Huangqi has a long history in traditional Asian medicine and is commonly used to treat inflammation, infections, and skin diseases. For example, in southern China, Huangqi leaves are often used for decoction or external application to alleviate symptoms such as rheumatic pain, ulcers, and eczema. Modern plant chemistry research has confirmed that Huangqi leaves are rich in flavonoids, among which isoflavones, as one of the key active ingredients, may be closely related to their traditional therapeutic effects.
In addition, isoflavones are also present in other medicinal plants, such as Astragalus(Astrolus membranaceus) and Smilax glabra(Rhizoma Smilacis glabrae)。 Huangqi is known as the "Holy Medicine for Tonifying Qi" in traditional Chinese medicine, commonly used to enhance immunity, resist fatigue, and fight inflammation; Tubia cocos is commonly used to relieve dampness, detoxify, and promote joint health. The traditional applications of these plants are mostly related to anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune regulation, and the discovery of abscisic acid provides a scientific basis for these traditional effects. Through modern extraction and separation techniques, such as chromatography, isoquercetin can be efficiently obtained from these plants, laying the foundation for their pharmacological research and drug development.
4. Pharmacological activity and mechanism of action
The pharmacological activities of isoflavones are extensive, mainly involving anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, and enzyme inhibition aspects. Its mechanism of action is closely related to multiple molecular targets. According to database information, potential targets of isosorbide include TNF(Tumor necrosis factor)PTGS2 Prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 2 (COX-2)NFKB1(Nuclear factor kappa B)IL6(interleukin-6) and IL1B(Interleukin-1 β). These targets are the core regulatory factors of inflammation and immune response, therefore the function of isosorbide anti-inflammatory The effect may be achieved through multiple pathways:
- Inhibit inflammatory mediators TNF, IL6, and IL1B are pro-inflammatory cytokines that play a key role in the inflammatory cascade. Yiluoxinfu glycoside may alleviate tissue damage and inflammatory response by downregulating the expression or activity of these factors. For example, in cell models, flavonoids often inhibit the production of TNF and IL6 by blocking the NF - κ B signaling pathway.
- Regulating enzyme activity PTGS2 (COX-2) is a key enzyme in prostaglandin synthesis, involved in inflammation and pain processes. Yiluoxinfu glycoside may exert anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting COX-2 activity and reducing the production of inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandin E2. In addition, it has an impact on Glucosyltransferase The inhibition of GTase (IC50=54.3 μ g/mL) may interfere with bacterial biofilm formation and contribute to antimicrobial activity; Correct tyrosinase Inhibition may be applied in the treatment of skin pigmentation diseases such as melasma.
- Antioxidant and neuroprotective effects The antioxidant properties of isosorbide may be achieved by scavenging free radicals and enhancing the activity of endogenous antioxidant enzymes such as SOD and GSH Px. In the study of Alzheimer's disease, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are the main pathological mechanisms, and isoflavones may protect neurons from beta amyloid toxicity and slow down cognitive decline through dual anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
- Antimicrobial activity Research has shown that isoflavones and their analogues (such as isoflavones and isoflavones) have an effect on Streptococcus mutans Oral pathogenic bacteria such as Streptococcus sobrinus have inhibitory effects at concentrations ranging from 9.32-42.7 μ g/mL. This is related to its GTase inhibitory activity, as GTase is a key enzyme for bacterial adhesion and plaque formation.
Overall, isoflavones exert pharmacological effects through multiple targets and pathways, and have potential therapeutic value in inflammation related diseases such as arthritis, dermatitis, and neurodegenerative diseases. However, the specific pathways of action and in vivo effects still require further experimental verification.
5. Evaluation of drug properties
The evaluation of drug properties is a key step in determining whether a compound can be developed into a drug. Based on the provided parameters, the potential for drug development of isosorbide is analyzed as follows:
- Lipinski Five Rule Compliance This rule is typically used to predict the rationality of oral medication. The MW of isosorbide is 450.40 (<500), and the number of hydrogen bond donors (estimated to be around 6-7 based on structure) is slightly higher than the standard (≤ 5). The number of hydrogen bond acceptors (11 oxygen atoms) is also slightly higher (≤ 10), and the LogP is 0.50 (<5). Therefore, it basically conforms to the rules, but the high number of hydrogen bond donors/acceptors may affect its permeability.
- Permeability and Distribution The permeability of Caco-2 cells is 0.2044 (usually measured in x 10 ⁻⁶ cm/s), which is a low value, indicating that their intestinal absorption may be limited. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration is marked as "low", which is consistent with a higher TPSA (186.37 Å ²), meaning it is not easily accessible to the central nervous system, but may still be effective for peripheral inflammatory diseases. The plasma protein binding rate (PPB) is 77.44%, indicating that most compounds bind to plasma proteins, which may affect their free concentration and efficacy.
- Toxicity and Safety The Ames test value is 0.6 (usually<1 indicates no mutagenicity), indicating a low risk of genetic toxicity. The chromosomal aberration test is' present 'and its long-term safety needs to be carefully evaluated. HERG inhibition is' no ', indicating a low risk of cardiac toxicity. Other parameters such as skin sensitization (Skid_Sens) are set to "no", but respiratory sensitization (Resp_Sens) is set to "yes", indicating the need to pay attention to inhalation risks during the formulation process. Serum indicators (such as Ser_LK and Ser_ST being "yes") may suggest the influence of liver enzymes and require further validation.
- Water solubility and formulation potential Moderate water solubility (3.9382), beneficial for making oral or injectable formulations. However, the lower permeability of Caco-2 may limit its oral bioavailability, which needs to be improved through formulation techniques such as nanocarriers and prodrug modifications.
Overall, isoflavones have good pharmacological activity and partial pharmacological characteristics, but their permeability, protein binding rate, and potential toxicity need to be focused on in subsequent optimization. Compliant with Lipinski's rules but with deviations, it suggests that it may be more suitable as a lead compound for structural modification.
6. Research Status and Application Prospects
At present, research on isosorbide is still in the preclinical stage, mainly focusing on in vitro and animal model validation of its activity. In the field of anti-inflammatory, studies have shown that it reduces inflammation by regulating the NF - κ B and COX-2 pathways; In neuroscience, its protective effect against Alzheimer's disease is becoming a hot topic, which may be achieved by inhibiting amyloid aggregation and tau protein phosphorylation. In addition, in dermatology and dentistry, its tyrosinase and GTase inhibitory activities provide new ideas for the development of whitening cosmetics or anti caries drugs.
However, research also faces challenges: firstly, there is insufficient in vivo pharmacokinetic data for isosorbide, such as the need for systematic evaluation of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) characteristics; Secondly, although its mechanism of action involves multiple targets, its specificity is not strong, which may lead to off target effects; Finally, natural extraction yields are limited, and chemical synthesis or bioengineering methods need to be further developed to increase supply.
Future directions include: 1)structural optimization Improve its permeability and stability through chemical modification, such as glycosylation modification or introduction of lipophilic groups; 2)Deepening mechanism Using omics techniques and molecular docking, clarify the details of its interactions with targets such as TNF and IL6; 3)clinical translation Conduct standardized toxicology and pharmacodynamics experiments to explore their clinical application potential in inflammatory diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, or skin diseases. With the revival of natural product drug development, isosorbide is expected to become a candidate molecule for multi-target therapeutic agents, providing a new natural choice for modern medicine.
Article Summary As a natural dihydroflavonol glycoside, isoflavones have shown broad prospects in pharmaceutical research due to their multiple activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, and enzyme inhibition. Despite the challenges of permeability and toxicity in drug development, through structural optimization and mechanism research, it is expected to develop into an innovative drug for treating inflammation, neurodegenerative diseases, and related infections. Future research should focus on its in vivo effects and clinical translation to fully explore the medical value of this natural product.