α-Glucosidase and advanced glycation end products inhibition with Vernonia amygdalina root and leaf extracts: new data supporting the antidiabetic properties

Objective: This study aims to investigate antidiabetic activity of several Vernonia amygdalina extracts to study their potential use in medicine. Methods: Aqueous and ethanol extracts were obtained by maceration and Soxhlet extraction from roots and leaves of V. amygdalina. The extracts were tested as inhibitors of alpha-glucosidase activity and of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formation. Further, radical scavenging activity was examined detecting the oxygen radical absorbance capacity, while the potential cytotoxicity of extracts was estimated with MTT assay. Key findings: In aqueous and ethanol extracts, several polyphenolic compounds were identified; in detail, (-)-catechin and luteolin were found in leaf extracts, while caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid and the terpenoid vernodalol were recognized in root extracts. Regarding antidiabetic activity, the aqueous root extracts efficiently inhibited alpha-glucosidase activity in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 = 5.6 mu g/ml and 39.8 mu g/ml, respectively of macerated and Soxhlet extracts), whereas those obtained from leaves exhibited lower potency. Furthermore, AGEs formation was reduced by all V. amygdalina extracts starting from 10 mu g/ml. Conclusions: The aqueous extracts of V. amygdalina roots obtained by maceration and Soxhlet extraction show remarkable anti-alpha-glucosidase activity, and all extracts have favourable antiglycation and antioxidant activities.

Automated summary

This study investigates the antidiabetic activity of Vernonia amygdalina extracts, which exhibit significant inhibition of alpha-glucosidase activity and favorable antiglycation and antioxidant activities. The aqueous root extracts show promising anti-alpha-glucosidase activity, while all extracts demonstrate potential medical uses.