Antidiabetic Studies and Dereplication of the Bioactive Constituents of Anthocleista nobilis G. Don by UHPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus remains a global health challenge and herbal medicines are known to be effective and safe for use in its management. Anthocleista nobilis is used in the traditional management of the disorder but this claimed use has not been validated. The present study was designed to establish and hence validate the use of the plant for the management of diabetes and also identify the bioactive phytoconstituents of the plant. The root and stem bark extracts of the plant were investigated for antidiabetic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The animals were treated orally with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg bw of both extracts for seven days. The fasting blood glucose concentration (FBGC) of the animals was monitored for seven days with a glucometer. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometric (UHPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS) technique was adopted for partial dereplication of secondary metabolites of the plant. The extracts significantly (p < 0.5) reduced the FBGC of the diabetic animals. Nine previously reported compounds in the genus Anthocleista were successfully dereplicated from the plant and identified to be scopoletin (1), anthocleistol (2), sweroside (3), djalonesone (4), fagaramide (5), lanosta-7, 24-dien-3-one (6), 1-hydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyxanthene (7), djalonensin (8) and secologanin (9). Numerous other prominent peaks were not identified and could be potential novel compounds. The traditional use of A. nobilis in the management of diabetes has been validated in the present study. The identified as well as the unidentified compounds could provide template for guided isolation of the antidiabetic and other bioactive constituents of the plant.

Bioactivity-guided fractionation of a methanol leaf extract from Gnetum africanum with potential anti-diabetic activity: (-)-Epicatechin as the active principle

“…Consequently, different approaches have been developed for the treatment of diabetes, like insulin in type I diabetes and oral hypoglycemic agents such as sulphonylureas, biguanides, thiazaolidinediones, meglitinides and alphaglucosidase inhibitors [5]. These synthetic drugs are costly and replete with side effects [6,7]. The search for safe alternatives is therefore, a priority and plants-based products are potential sources.…”