Microporous organic network immobilized α-glucosidase for inhibitors screening from Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat extract and network pharmacology study

The study presents an approach to identify potential α-glucosidase inhibitors from Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat (CM) through the immobilization of α-glucosidase on a steel wire coated with bifunctional microporous organic networks. The immobilized α-glucosidase demonstrated improved stability to both temperature and pH. Its reusability was substantially enhanced, as it preserved 72% of the initial enzyme activity following 7 recycling rounds. Subsequently, eight ligands were discovered through UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis. Meanwhile, the molecular docking indicated that they were strong ligands of the α-glucosidase. Enzyme inhibition experiments showed that cynaroside exhibited the most significant inhibitory effecton α-glucosidase, possessing an IC₅₀ of 40.08 μM, indicating the reliability of the ligand screening method. The fluorescence spectrum analysis revealed alterations to the secondary structure and microenvironment of α-glucosidase. To elucidate the therapeutic mechanism of CM against diabetes, a network pharmacology approach was employed. In summary, the combination of immobilized enzymes with UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and network pharmacology offered a new idea for studying traditional Chinese herbs in the treating of complex diseases like diabetes.