In-vitro Evaluation of Antioxidant and Glycemic Control Properties of Selected Plant Extracts

Abstract

Recent studies indicated that 89.8 million Indians suffer from diabetes, in the year 2024, about 3.4 million people died directly because of diabetes. The number of diabetics is gradually increasing over the last few decades. Diabetes, being a degenerative disease, has become the 3rd most lethal disease, it is associated with many complications, some of which are cardiovascular disease, liver dysfunction, and diabetic nephropathy, closely linked to oxidative stress. This oxidative stress causes an imbalance between free radicals and the body’s antioxidant defense, this further contributes to the development and progression of the other diabetes associated complications. This research study was aimed to evaluate invitro properties of selected plant extracts, i.e., stem bark of Ficus racemose, leaves of Tecoma stans, leaves of Bougainvillea spectabilis, and seeds of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba to quantify their antioxidant potential by DPPH, ABTS radical and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity and glycemic control properties by inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. After detailed research study it was demonstrated that ethanolic extract of all four-plant extract showed significantly stronger antioxidant activity compared to aqueous extract. Whereas as in-vitro glycemic control study showed that both ethanolic and aqueous extracts showed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on both α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. The α- glucosidase enzyme was more potently inhibited by all four plant extracts than the α-amylase enzyme. This correlation is often attributed to a higher concentration of phenolic compounds, terpenoids and flavonoids in the more active extract, as these compounds are well-known to function as both radical scavengers and enzyme inhibitors. In conclusion, the antioxidant potential of four plants ethanolic extracts is integral to its overall anti-diabetic efficacy, acting as a prophylactic measure against ROS-mediated β-cell destruction and complication development, while the enzyme inhibition of α-amylase/glucosidase provides immediate postprandial glucose management. Thus in vitro study provided scientific evidence supporting the traditional use of these selected plant extracts.