Euclea natalensis Suppresses Postprandial Hyperglycemia in Rats via the Inhibition of α-Glucosidase: In vitro, in vivo, and Molecular Docking Studies

Title:Euclea natalensis Suppresses Postprandial Hyperglycemia in Rats via the Inhibition of α-Glucosidase: In vitro, in vivo, and Molecular Docking Studies

Volume: 10

Author(s): Keagile Bati*, Runner R.T Majinda, Goabaone Gaobotse and Tebogo E. Kwape

Affiliation:

• Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), Private Bag 16, Palapye, Botswana

Abstract: Background: Postprandial hyperglycemia is a key factor in type 2 diabetes, and its management is critical in alleviating the deleterious consequences of diabetes and its associated micro and macrovascular complications.

Objective: The current study aims to determine the effect of Euclea natalensis leaf extracts on α- glucosidase inhibition in vitro and postprandial hyperglycemia in vivo in rats.

Methods: Sequentially extracted leaf extracts of Euclea natalensis were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase in vitro and the suppression of postprandial hyperglycemia in normoglycemic rats. The extracts were fingerprinted using a Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR), and the bioactive compounds were evaluated by molecular docking for their interaction with α-glucosidase.

Results: FTIR fingerprinting of the extracts showed that they contain functional groups of important bioactive phytochemicals. The extracts inhibited α-glucosidase in vitro, with the methanol extract (1 mg/mL) showing the highest inhibitory effect of 93.52 ± 1.50% compared to 69.62% ± 1.45 of the standard drug acarbose (0.05 mg/mL). The extracts also reduced postprandial hyperglycemia in rats in a sucrose tolerance test, where the hexane and methanol extracts performed similarly to Acarbose. Molecular docking studies showed that 20(29)-lupene-3β- isoferulate 3 is the most potent α-glucosidase inhibitor with the lowest binding energy of -10.79 kcal/mol, 2 hydrogen bonds with residues ASP1526 and ASP1157, and numerous Van der Waal interactions with amino acids in the binding pocket of α-glucosidase.

Conclusion: Euclea natalensis leaf extracts were found to suppress postprandial hyperglycemia by inhibiting α-glucosidase activity; thus, it has a promising potential for use as an antidiabetic agent.

Cite this article as:

Bati Keagile*, Majinda R.T Runner, Gaobotse Goabaone and Kwape E. Tebogo, Euclea natalensis Suppresses Postprandial Hyperglycemia in Rats via the Inhibition of α-Glucosidase: In vitro, in vivo, and Molecular Docking Studies, Current Traditional Medicine 2024; 10 () : e020124225151 . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0122150838259363230922033947