Evaluation of antidiabetic potential of extracts of Cryptolepis dubia (Burm.f.) M. R. Almeida

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic illnesses marked by chronic hyperglycemia, which can harm a variety of organs, including the kidneys, heart, nerves, eyes, and blood vessels. Despite the availability of synthetic hypoglycemic medicines, the negative side effects need alternative therapy, particularly those derived from natural sources. This study looks into the antidiabetic characteristics of Cryptolepis dubia (Burm.f.) M.R. Almeida, a plant that has traditionally been used for medicinal purposes. Extracts from Cryptolepis dubia stems and leaves were examined for their inhibitory effects on α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzysmes, as well as glucose uptake in yeast and HepG2 cells.The ethanolic leaf extract inhibited α-amylase at the highest rate (83.20%), whereas the aqueous stem extract inhibited α-glucosidase significantly (81.50%). The glucose uptake studies revealed that both stem and leaf extracts significantly increased glucose absorption, comparable to the standard medication Metformin. In addition, the cell viability assay revealed that the extracts were non-toxic. These findings indicate that C. dubia extracts have strong anti-diabetic activities, underlining their potential as alternative therapeutic agents for diabetes control.