Identification of Active Compounds from Averrhoa bilimbi L. (Belimbing Wuluh) Flower using LC-MS and Antidiabetic Activity Test using in vitro and in silico Approaches

Abstract

Averrhoa bilimbi L., (Belimbing wuluh), is traditionally used for various antidiabetic, anti-larvicidal, antioxidant, hypoallergenic, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory treatments. This study evaluated 3 extracts (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol) isolated from starfruit flowers for antidiabetic effects using in vitro and in silico methods. Ethyl acetate extract showed the highest activity, followed by n-hexane and n-butanol extracts in inhibiting α-glucosidase. Each extract has an IC50 value of 89.84, 52.88, and 114.86 µg/mL. The active compounds contained in the ethyl acetate extract were determined using LC-MS, and the compounds with the highest retention time were identified as tautomycetin (8.585) and lithocholic acid (8.993). Tautomycetin and lithocholic acid showed promising results in the in silico test. The computational predictions showed that tautomycetin (−6.2 kcal/mol) and lithocholic acid (−10.0 kcal/mol) have better binding affinity values than miglitol (−5.4 kcal/mol). This is the first time the antidiabetic test of starfruit flower extract has been carried out. HIGHLIGHTS Averrhoa bilimbi L well-known as belimbing wuluh. is a highly nutritious plant and an endemic and tropical species mainly used as a traditional medicine to treat several diseases. Its fruit is food with economic value in Indonesia Extracts of ethyl acetate from the flower showed the highest antidiabetic activity with IC50 52.88 μg/mL In the phytochemical determination from Averrhoa bilimbi L flower using Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometer (LC-MS), several compounds were suspected of having antidiabetic activity, namely the compound lithocholic acid, and tautomycetin Lithocholic acid and tautomycetin have been tested for their bioactivity as antidiabetic with in vitro and in vivo methods GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT