Antioxidant and antidiabetic profiles of two African medicinal plants: Picralima nitida (Apocynaceae) and Sonchus oleraceus (Asteraceae).

Clautilde Mofor Teugwa,Bruno Tugnoua Tchinda,Denis Zofou,Fabrice Fekam Boyom,Pascaline Chouadeu Mejiato

doi:10.1186/1472-6882-13-175

Clautilde Mofor Teugwa, Bruno Tugnoua Tchinda + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-13-175

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Abstract

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia generally associated with oxidative stress. The present study aims at evaluating the antioxidant and antidiabetic potential of methanol and hydroethanol extracts of the stem bark and leaves of Pricralima nitida and the Sonchus oleraceus whole plant respectively.MethodsThe in vitro antioxidant activity was assessed using 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrilhydrazyl (DPPH) for free radical-scavenging properties of the extracts, and the Folin-Ciocalteu method in determining their phenol contents. The antidiabetic activity was tested in mice following streptozotocin diabetes induction, and selected oxidative stress markers (Malondialdehyde, Hydrogen peroxides and Catalase) were measured in order to evaluate the level of oxidative stress in treated animals.ResultsThe in vitro antioxidant activity using DPPH showed IC50 ranging from 0.19 ± 0.08 to 1.00 ± 0.06 mg/mL. The highest activity was obtained with the hydroethanol extracts of S. oleraceus (0.19 mg/mL and P. nitida (0.24 mg/mL). Polyphenol contents ranged from 182.25 ± 16.76 to 684.62 ± 46.66 μg Eq Cat/g. The methanol extract of P. nitida showed the highest activity, followed by the hydroethanol extract of S. oleraceus (616.89 ± 19.20 μEq Cat/g). The hydroethanol extract of whole plants (150 mg/Kg) and methanol leave extract of P. nitida (300 mg/Kg) exhibited significant antidiabetic activities with 39.40% and 38.48% glycaemia reduction, respectively. The measurement of stress markers in plasma, liver and kidney after administration of both extracts showed significant reduction in MDA and hydrogen peroxide levels, coupled with a substantial increase in catalase activity.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that S. oleraceus whole plant and P. nitida leaves possess both antidiabetic and antioxidant properties, and therefore could be used as starting point for the development of herbal medicines and/or source of new drug molecules against diabetes.

Highlights

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia generally associated with oxidative stress
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia and alteration of carbohydrate, proteins and lipids metabolism associated, with abnormald secretion and/or activity of insulin [1]
It is a justified fear that DM with its accompanying generalized syndromes would become the scourge in Africa, if a particular attention fails to be taken both in prevention of the upset and the treatment of the disease

Summary

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia generally associated with oxidative stress. In Cameroon in particular, the stem bark and leaves of P. nitida, and the whole plant of S. oleraceus are among the common phytomedicines used by traditional healers to treat diabetes [8,9]. The activity of the seed of P nitida has been established [8,9]; the major plant parts (stem bark and leaves) in common use are yet to be investigated for their acclaimed efficacies. This prompted us to initiate the present study which aims at evaluating the antioxidant and antidiabetic profiles of crude extracts prepared from these two plant species, following prescriptions of traditional healers

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