Abstract
This study was carried out to assess the in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic effects of Nauclea latifolia (Sm.) leaf extracts. Ethanolic (NLE) and aqueous (NLA) extract of N. latifolia leaves were prepared and assessed for their anti-inflammatory activity, antioxidant potential, α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities, and the mechanism of enzyme inhibition in vitro using standard established methods. From the results, phytochemicals such as flavonoids, phenolics, glycosides, and tannins were detected in both extracts of N. latifolia with NLE having a significantly (p < 0.05) higher phytochemical content. NLE displayed significantly (p < 0.05) better total antioxidant capacity, reducing power, 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, and hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging activities. For anti-inflammatory activities, 70.54 ± 2.45% albumin denaturation inhibition was observed for NLE while 68.05 ± 1.03% was recorded for NLA. Likewise, 16.07 ± 1.60 and 14.08 ± 1.76% were obtained against hypotonic solution and heat-induced erythrocyte haemolysis, respectively, for NLE while 20.59 ± 4.60 and 24.07 ± 1.60% were respective NLA values. NLE (IC50: 4.20 ± 0.18 and 1.19 ± 0.11 mg/mL) and NLA (IC50: 11.21 ± 0.35 and 2.64 ± 0.48 mg/mL) α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities were dose-dependent with uncompetitive and competitive inhibition elicited, respectively, by the extracts. A significant positive association (p < 0.01 and 0.05) was identified between antioxidant activity and carbohydrate-metabolising enzyme inhibitory activity. The obtained result suggests N. latifolia leaf could serve as an alternative candidate for managing diabetes mellitus due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory association with diabetes-linked enzymes.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a noncommunicable, chronic ailment that is affecting a high proportion of the world’s populace and affecting more of the developing countries of the world compared to the developed nations [1]
Reports show that N. latifolia formulation and decoction preparations are used in ethnomedicine to treat hyperglycaemia and diabetes by different ethnic groups in Nigeria [8]
Though moderate to good antioxidant activity was observed for all extracts, the higher antioxidant capacity and scavenging activity of NLE may be as a result of higher tannin contents
Summary
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a noncommunicable, chronic ailment that is affecting a high proportion of the world’s populace and affecting more of the developing countries of the world compared to the developed nations [1]. Epidemiological statistics show that Nigeria is responsible for a fifth of all reported cases of diabetes in the sub-Saharan Africa, with a steep increase in the prevalence of this disease from the rural area to members of the high socioeconomic population [3]. Nauclea latifolia is an evergreen tree with multiple stems and adapts very well in both the tropical rainforest zone and the savanna woodlands situated in the west and central Africa [4]. This tree is known to have various medical uses, by folk medicine men [5].
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