Antioxidative and antidiabetic activity and phytochemicals analysis of some selected Sudanese traditional medicinal plants.

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties of selected traditional Sudanese medicinal plants (Cyperus rotundus, Nauclea latifolia, and Hibiscus sabdariffa) using in vitro, ex vivo, and in silico experimental models. The crude extracts (ethyl acetate, ethanol, and aqueous) were screened in vitro for their antioxidant activities using ferricreducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and nitric oxide radical (NO) scavenging activities, as well as their carbohydrate digesting enzyme inhibitory activities for antidiabetic evaluation. Subsequently, the extracts were subjected to Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis to elucidate their possible bioactive compounds. Additionally, ex vivo studies was conducted to investigate their capability to promote muscle glucose uptake and suppress glucose absorption in the intestine as well as to analyze antioxidative effects in iron–induced oxidative stress in hepatic tissue. Molecular docking was carried out to determine the probable enzymes' inhibitory mode of action by ligands identified through GC-MS. This study indicates that these traditional Sudanese medicinal plants have remarkable antioxidant and antidiabetic activities, which may help to ameliorate oxidative stress and diabetes. Therefore, these plants may be considered a natural source of bioactive compounds beneficial for human health, particularly for managing diabetes and oxidative stress-related metabolic disorders.