In vitro and in silico α-glucosidase Inhibition Studies of Two Water-soluble Copper(II) and Manganese(III) Phthalocyanines

Mustafa Çeşme; Melike Yıldırım Akatın; Zekeriya Bıyıklıoğlu; Nagihan Saglam Ertunga

doi:10.17776/csj.1834754

In vitro and in silico α-glucosidase Inhibition Studies of Two Water-soluble Copper(II) and Manganese(III) Phthalocyanines

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by impaired insulin activity and hyperglycemia, which often leads to severe complications. Current therapeutic agents such as acarbose exert their effects through α-glucosidase inhibition; however, their clinical utility is often restricted due to gastrointestinal side effects, highlighting the urgent need for safer and more effective alternatives. Phthalocyanines, known for their structural stability and versatile biological activities, represent promising candidates in this field. In this study, two previously synthesized water-soluble peripheral tetra-substituted metallophthalocyanine complexes, copper(II) phthalocyanine (CuPc) and manganese(III) phthalocyanine (MnPc), were evaluated for their α-glucosidase inhibitory potential using both in vitro and in silico approaches. The IC₅₀ values of CuPc (14.90 ± 0.59 µM) and MnPc (12.91 ± 0.29 µM) were lower than that of acarbose (237.24 ± 1.80 µM), indicating stronger inhibitory effect in vitro. Kinetic studies revealed that MnPc displayed competitive inhibition with a K_i value of 1.88 µM. Molecular docking simulations further supported these findings, with binding affinities of −9.8 kcal/mol for CuPc and −9.3 kcal/mol for MnPc against α-glucosidase (PDB ID: 3WY2). Structural analyses showed that CuPc binding was dominated by hydrophobic and π-interactions, while MnPc formed an extensive hydrogen-bonding network in addition to hydrophobic contacts. These combined interactions may contribute to their observed binding affinity and inhibitory activity. Overall, the results indicate that CuPc and MnPc are potent in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitors and provide a basis for further investigation of these compounds as potential antidiabetic agents. However, additional in vivo efficacy, toxicity, and pharmacokinetic studies are required to further evaluate their therapeutic potential.

Keywords

Antidiabetic activity, Bioinorganic chemistry, Drug research, Molecular docking, Phthalocyanines

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Molecular Docking, Enzymes

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Mustafa Çeşme
0000-0002-2020-5965
Türkiye

Melike Yıldırım Akatın
0000-0003-4195-4647
Türkiye

Zekeriya Bıyıklıoğlu
0000-0001-5138-214X
Türkiye

Nagihan Saglam Ertunga ^*
0000-0002-2104-2192
Türkiye

Publication Date

August 31, 2026

Submission Date

December 3, 2025

Acceptance Date

July 18, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 47 Number: 4

DOI

https://doi.org/10.17776/csj.1834754

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA74GE29EJ

APA

Çeşme, M., Yıldırım Akatın, M., Bıyıklıoğlu, Z., & Saglam Ertunga, N. (2026). In vitro and in silico α-glucosidase Inhibition Studies of Two Water-soluble Copper(II) and Manganese(III) Phthalocyanines. Cumhuriyet Science Journal, 47(4), 673-682. https://doi.org/10.17776/csj.1834754

AMA

1.Çeşme M, Yıldırım Akatın M, Bıyıklıoğlu Z, Saglam Ertunga N. In vitro and in silico α-glucosidase Inhibition Studies of Two Water-soluble Copper(II) and Manganese(III) Phthalocyanines. CSJ. 2026;47(4):673-682. doi:10.17776/csj.1834754

Chicago

Çeşme, Mustafa, Melike Yıldırım Akatın, Zekeriya Bıyıklıoğlu, and Nagihan Saglam Ertunga. 2026. “In Vitro and in Silico α-Glucosidase Inhibition Studies of Two Water-Soluble Copper(II) and Manganese(III) Phthalocyanines”. Cumhuriyet Science Journal 47 (4): 673-82. https://doi.org/10.17776/csj.1834754.

EndNote

Çeşme M, Yıldırım Akatın M, Bıyıklıoğlu Z, Saglam Ertunga N (August 1, 2026) In vitro and in silico α-glucosidase Inhibition Studies of Two Water-soluble Copper(II) and Manganese(III) Phthalocyanines. Cumhuriyet Science Journal 47 4 673–682.

IEEE

[1]M. Çeşme, M. Yıldırım Akatın, Z. Bıyıklıoğlu, and N. Saglam Ertunga, “In vitro and in silico α-glucosidase Inhibition Studies of Two Water-soluble Copper(II) and Manganese(III) Phthalocyanines”, CSJ, vol. 47, no. 4, pp. 673–682, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.17776/csj.1834754.

ISNAD

Çeşme, Mustafa - Yıldırım Akatın, Melike - Bıyıklıoğlu, Zekeriya - Saglam Ertunga, Nagihan. “In Vitro and in Silico α-Glucosidase Inhibition Studies of Two Water-Soluble Copper(II) and Manganese(III) Phthalocyanines”. Cumhuriyet Science Journal 47/4 (August 1, 2026): 673-682. https://doi.org/10.17776/csj.1834754.

JAMA

1.Çeşme M, Yıldırım Akatın M, Bıyıklıoğlu Z, Saglam Ertunga N. In vitro and in silico α-glucosidase Inhibition Studies of Two Water-soluble Copper(II) and Manganese(III) Phthalocyanines. CSJ. 2026;47:673–682.

MLA

Çeşme, Mustafa, et al. “In Vitro and in Silico α-Glucosidase Inhibition Studies of Two Water-Soluble Copper(II) and Manganese(III) Phthalocyanines”. Cumhuriyet Science Journal, vol. 47, no. 4, Aug. 2026, pp. 673-82, doi:10.17776/csj.1834754.

Vancouver

1.Mustafa Çeşme, Melike Yıldırım Akatın, Zekeriya Bıyıklıoğlu, Nagihan Saglam Ertunga. In vitro and in silico α-glucosidase Inhibition Studies of Two Water-soluble Copper(II) and Manganese(III) Phthalocyanines. CSJ. 2026 Aug. 1;47(4):673-82. doi:10.17776/csj.1834754

As of 2026, Cumhuriyet Science Journal will be published in six issues per year, released in February, April, June, August, October, and December

In vitro and in silico α-glucosidase Inhibition Studies of Two Water-soluble Copper(II) and Manganese(III) Phthalocyanines

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