Evaluation of phytochemicals, antioxidants, and antidiabetic efficacy of various solvent fractions of Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr

This work aimed to evaluate the phytochemicals, antioxidants, antidiabetic, and biocompatibility of methanolic extract and its various solvent fractions (hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol, methanol/water) of Gynura procumbens (GP). Among the extract/fractions, ethyl acetate fraction (EA-F) exhibited the higher total phenol content (88.52 +/- 1.21 GAE mu g/g) and total flavonoid content (51.69 +/- 1.16 QE mu g/g) with higher DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging, and enzyme inhibition activities. The IC50 of GP-EA-F were 144 +/- 12.1 mu g/mL for DPPH scavenging, 72 +/- 2 mu g/mL for ABTS+ scavenging, 90.7 +/- 2.5 mu g/mL for alpha-glucosidase inhibition and 136 +/- 4 mu g/mL for alpha-amylase inhibition. Also, GP-EA-F augmented the glucose uptake in insulin-resistant (IR) HepG2 cells. Besides, the ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometer (UPLC/QTOF-MS/MS) analysis revealed the presence of phytochemicals including kaempferol, quercetin, caffeoyl-O-hexoside, caffeoylquinic acid, coumaroyl-O-hexoside, and coumaroylquinic acid in GP-EA-F. Further, the molecular docking analysis demonstrated the strong molecular interaction between the digestive enzymes (alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase) and selected molecules. Hence, this work concluded that GP-EA-F contains potent antidiabetic molecules which deserved further isolation, purification, and pharmacological studies.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the phytochemicals, antioxidants, antidiabetic effects, and biocompatibility of methanolic extract and its various solvent fractions of Gynura procumbens. The ethyl acetate fraction showed higher phenol and flavonoid content, as well as strong antioxidant and enzyme inhibition activities. Analysis revealed the presence of potent antidiabetic molecules in the ethyl acetate fraction, suggesting the need for further isolation and pharmacological studies.