Herbacetin Inhibits Human Fructose 1,6-Bisphosphatase Among a Panel of Chromone Derivatives and Pyrazoles, Demonstrating Positive Effects on Insulin-Resistant HepG2 Cells

In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), excessive gluconeogenesis is considered a major contributor to hyperglycemia. Therefore, targeting fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase), a key regulatory enzyme involved in gluconeogenesis, has gained interest as a potential therapeutic target for managing DM. In this study, a library of 42 structurally-related chromone derivatives (including flavonoids, 2-styrylchromones, and 2-(4-arylbuta-1,3-dien-1-yl)chromones, named as 2-styrylchromone-related derivatives), as well as 4- and 5-styrylpyrazoles, were tested against human FBPase using a noncellular microanalysis screening system. Herbacetin, 3,4′,5,7,8-pentahydroxyflavone, inhibited FBPase activity with an IC₅₀ value of 6.4 ± 0.7 μM. The effects of herbacetin were also explored using an insulin-resistant human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2 cells). The results showed that herbacetin significantly decrease insulin resistance by promoting the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt), and exhibited a capacity to ameliorate inflammation, evidenced by the modulation of the inhibitor of κB alpha (IκBα). This study provides important considerations for the design of novel FBPase inhibitors. Furthermore, it indicates a preliminary potential of herbacetin's dual action in improving insulin resistance and decreasing inflammation, suggesting the need for further investigation of this compound for addressing the complexities of type 2 DM management.