Abstract
ABSTRACTThe use of antioxidant-rich medicinal plants having the potential to reduce oxidative stress and postprandial hyperglycemic pressure is one of the most promising option for the management of diabetes. This study presents information on metabolite profiling and in vitro anti-diabetic effects of leaf extracts of Ficus benjamina. The DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals) assay was performed to determine the in vitro antioxidant potential of the plant extracts. The anti-diabetic effects were investigated by evaluating inhibitory properties of F. benjamina leaf extracts towards carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes, i.e., α-glucosidase and α-amylase, whereas 1H NMR and UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS analytical methods were employed for metabolite profiling of F. benjamina leaf extracts. Among 40, 60, 80, and 100% ethanolic leaf extracts of F. benjamina, 80% ethanolic extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity based upon its DPPH radical scavenging ability (IC50 value: 63.71 ± 2.66 µg/mL). The 80% ethanolic leaf extract of F. benjamina also proved to be the most efficient α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitor with IC50 values of 9.65 ± 1.04 µg/mL and 13.08 ± 1.06 µg/mL, respectively; these values were even better than acarbose with α-glucosidase inhibition activity (IC50 = 116.01 ± 3.83 µg/mL) and α-amylase inhibition activity (IC50 = 152.66 ± 7.32 µg/mL). Moreover, a total of 31 metabolites were identified in F. benjamina leaf extract, which may have the potential to contribute to its antioxidant and inhibitory properties against carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes. The findings of this study depict F. benjamina leaf extracts as a promising α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitor, and therefore, can be utilized for the development of anti-diabetic functional diets/nutra-pharmaceuticals.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus is a common and diversified world-wide metabolic disorder, and is usually characterized by irregularities in blood glucose levels.[1,2,3] Diabetes pathogenesis results in adverse health complications, such as neuropathy, retinopathy, and cardiovascular disorders, etc.[4,5,6] In some cases, it leads to death.[1,2] Numerous pharmacological agents having a diverse mode of action are being used for the cure and management of diabetes mellitus
The other strategy to manage diabetes mellitus is based on reduction of glucose absorption through interference in the activity of α-glucosidase and αamylase.[8,9,10]
Use of the inhibitors with ability to inhibit hydrolyzing enzymes could be a workable and emphatic approach to delay the uptake of dietary carbohydrates, leading to the suppression of postprandial hyperglycemia.[8,11,12]
Summary
Diabetes mellitus is a common and diversified world-wide metabolic disorder, and is usually characterized by irregularities in blood glucose levels.[1,2,3] Diabetes pathogenesis results in adverse health complications, such as neuropathy, retinopathy, and cardiovascular disorders, etc.[4,5,6] In some cases, it leads to death.[1,2] Numerous pharmacological agents having a diverse mode of action are being used for the cure and management of diabetes mellitus. Use of the inhibitors with ability to inhibit hydrolyzing enzymes could be a workable and emphatic approach to delay the uptake of dietary carbohydrates, leading to the suppression of postprandial hyperglycemia.[8,11,12] To date, only a limited number of α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitors are available commercially; perhaps because their synthesis is very complex and serious gastrointestinal complications have been reported to be linked with their usage.[13]
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