In-vitro Evaluation of Antidiabetic Potential of Aphanamixis polystachya Extracts
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Abstract
The present study investigates the in-vitro antidiabetic potential of extracts derived from Aphanamixis polystachya using antioxidant-based screening through the DPPH assay. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder associated with oxidative stress, which plays a significant role in the progression of complications. Therefore, natural antioxidants from medicinal plants are increasingly explored for their therapeutic potential. In this study, different solvent extracts (aqueous, methanolic, and ethanolic) of Aphanamixis polystachya were prepared and subjected to DPPH radical scavenging activity to evaluate their antioxidant capacity, which is closely linked to antidiabetic effects.
The DPPH assay is based on the reduction of the stable free radical DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) in the presence of hydrogen-donating antioxidants, resulting in a color change from deep violet to yellow. The degree of discoloration indicates the scavenging potential of the extract. Various concentrations of the plant extracts were tested, and their percentage inhibition values were calculated and compared with a standard antioxidant such as ascorbic acid. The results demonstrated a concentration-dependent increase in free radical scavenging activity, with the methanolic extract showing the highest activity among all tested samples.
The significant antioxidant activity observed suggests that Aphanamixis polystachya contains bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, phenolics, and alkaloids, which may contribute to its antidiabetic potential by reducing oxidative stress. These findings support the traditional use of this plant in herbal medicine and indicate its promise as a natural source for the development of antidiabetic agents. Further studies involving in-vivo models and isolation of active constituents are recommended to validate and extend these finding.