Abstract
This study aimed to determine the most effective plant part and extraction solvent using in vitro assays and to evaluate the hypoglycemic activities of the most potent extract in an alloxan-induced mouse model. Polyphenolic contents (phenolics and flavonoids) were quantified, and antioxidant capacity was analyzed using DPPH radical scavenging and metal chelating assays. In vitro antidiabetic potential was evaluated through α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition assays. Among the samples, methanolic leaf extract (AMLE) exhibited the highest phenolic content, along with strong antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities, while ethanolic leaf extract (AELE) showed the highest flavonoid content. Considering the superior in vitro performance, AMLE was subjected to in vivo evaluation. The extract was administered to diabetic mice at doses of 75-300 mg/kg for three weeks, and at the end of the experiment, blood glucose levels, lipid profiles (cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, HDL, VLDL), and liver function markers (SGPT, SGOT) were measured. All tested doses markedly reduced blood glucose levels (p < 0.001) compared to the diabetic control, with the 300 mg/kg dose producing the greatest reduction (51.37%) and efficacy comparable to glibenclamide (~ 0.94-fold). Furthermore, notable improvements were also observed in biochemical parameters, including lipid profiles and liver enzyme activities (p < 0.001). These results indicate that AMLE effectively reduced hyperglycemia and its associated parameters in alloxan-induced mice and demonstrated preliminary antidiabetic potential. However, further studies are required to validate these effects in other diabetic models. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-025-04588-9.