In vitro study of antidiabetic effect of abrus precatorius methanol leaves extract against glucose absorption

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a common chronic systemic disorder characterised by hyperglycaemia as a standard feature. A traditional plant known as Abrus precatorius (AP) has been used for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus in Malaysia. The potential of the 80% methanolic extract of A. precatorius leaves has been tested in vitro for its α-glucosidase inhibition and its glucose diffusion activity. It was observed that the extraction of A. precatorius leaves exhibit a high α-glucosidase inhibition at the concentrations of 25 and 50 mg/mL (65.4% and 84.6%), respectively, but low inhibition at the concentration of 6.25 to 12.5 mg/mL (25% and 28.2%) when compared to control. Meanwhile, the methanolic extract of A. precatorius slightly affected the glucose diffusion at the concentration of 50 mg/mL (9.5%) within 24 h compared to the control group. These results indicated that the methanolic extract of A. precatorius leaves is capable of inhibiting α-glucosidase activity, besides halting glucose diffusion activity by delaying the glucose absorption in the gut.