Lead optimization resources in drug discovery for diabetes

Background: Diabetes, defined as a chronic metabolic syndrome, exhibits global prevalence and phenomenal rise worldwide. The rising incidence accounts for a global health crisis, demonstrating a profound effect on low and middle-income countries, particularly people with limited healthcare facilities. Methods: Highlighting the prevalence of diabetes and its socio-economic implications on the population across the globe, the article aimed to address the emerging significance of computational biology in drug designing and development, pertaining to identification and validation of lead molecules for diabetes treatment. Results: The drug discovery programs have shifted the focus on in silico prediction strategies minimizing prolonged clinical trials and expenses. Despite technological advances and effective drug therapies, the fight against life-threatening, disabling disease has witnessed multiple challenges. The lead optimization resources in computational biology have transformed the research on the identification and optimization of anti-diabetic lead molecules in drug discovery studies. The QSAR approaches and ADMET/Toxicity parameters provide significant evaluation of prospective “drug-like” molecules from natural sources. Conclusion: The science of computational biology has facilitated the drug discovery and development studies and the available data may be utilized in a rational construction of a drug ‘blueprint’ for a particular individual based on the genetic organization. The identification of natural products possessing bioactive properties as well as their scientific validation is an emerging prospective approach in antidiabetic drug discovery.