Urease inhibition potential of Di-naphthodiospyrol from Diospyros lotus roots

The dimeric napthoquione 5,8,4-trihydroxy-1-methoxy-6, 6-dimethyl-7,3-binaphtyl-1,4,5,8-tetraone (1) was isolated from the chloroform fraction of Diospyros lotus extract. Compound 1 was screened for its inhibitory effects against four enzymes: urease, phosphodiesterase-I, carbonic anhydrase-II and -chymotrypsin, and showed selective activity against urease enzyme with an IC50 value of 254.1 +/- 3.82M as compared to the standard thiourea (IC50=21 +/- 0.11M). Furthermore, in silico docking study was carried out to explain the molecular mechanism of compound 1 against the target receptor.