Chimie médicale

Ameliorative Effects of Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Physalis angulata (Ewe Koropo) on Diabetic-Induced Wistar Rats in South West Nigeria

Abstract

Abiodun Adewolu, A.S. Adenekan, O.F. Uzamat and O.O Ajayi

Excessive consumption of foods high in calories, lack of exercise and oxidative stress play crucial roles in diabetic physiopathology, and if not diagnosed and treated early, damages to kidney, eyes, heart and nerves are inevitable. Medicinal plants have long been utilized in traditional medicine for the treatment of diseases. In this study, qualitative and quantitative phytochemicals analyses of ethanolic extract of Physalis angulata were carried out using standard biochemical methods. In addition, evaluation of the antioxidant activity and inhibitory potential of the plant extract against key enzymes associated with hyperglycemia-a symptom that characterizes diabetes were done. Antioxidant activities were determined using DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate), FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power), ABTS (2, 2l-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), lipid peroxidation assays while the alpha–glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities were also evaluated. The ethanolic extract of Physalis angulata exhibited significant strong scavenging activity on DPPH, lipid peroxidation, reducing power, ABTS activity as compared with the standard drug Ascorbic Acid against the diabetic group (p<0.05). Furthermore, the ethanolic extract did exhibit significant α-amylase and α–glucosidase activities with IC₅₀ (23.88, 15.10), when compared with standard drug acarbose with IC₅₀ (24.75, 41.74). The findings of this study indicate that the ethanolic extract of Physalis angulata leaves possess anti hyperglycemic properties; and thus provide pharmacological benefits to the ethnomedical use of this plant in the treatment, management and control of type 2 diabetes mellitus.