Extracts from Phyllanthus emblica L stem barks ameliorate blood glucose level and pancreatic and hepatic injuries in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

Phyllanthus emblica L is a promising medicinal plant for antidiabetic therapy but current research has not explored its stem bark potential as an antidiabetic agent despite the fact that the stem bark contains rich antioxidants. Herein, we aimed to investigate the antidiabetic potential of P. emblica stem barks in vivo. The dried simplicial powder of the stem barks was macerated sequentially using n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol. The extracts were administered orally to streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, where the blood glucose levels were monitored every week. Histopathological analyses were performed for the pancreas and liver. The results revealed that ethyl acetate extract from P. emblica stem barks could lower the fasting blood glucose levels three weeks post-STZ injection (140.3 ± 38.99 versus 270.0 ± 50.51; p = 0.0375). Significant improvement on pancreas and liver histopathology at p < 0.05 was found in the group receiving P. emblica extracts. The IC50 of the ethyl acetate extract against DPPH free radical was 4.67 ± 1.2 mg/g, with total flavonoids, phenolics, and tannins content of 65.54 ± 0.11 QE mg/g, 35.72 ± 0.5 mg GAE/g, and 134.69 ± 0.7 mg TAE/g, respectively. Taken altogether, the ethyl acetate extract from P. emblica stem barks is potential as an antidiabetic drug candidate.