BIOACTIVE PROFILE, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIDIABETIC POTENTIALS OF MAGNIFERA INDICA AND VERNONIA AMYGDALINA IN VITRO

Temidayo Ogunmoyole*, Ruth Kehinde Oladele, Yusuff Adewale Akeem, Olaitan Daniel Johnson, Adenike Oluwaseun Adefila and Aderonke Mary Ogundare

Vernonia amygdalina and Magnifera indica are plants commonly cultivated for their nutritional and medicinal benefits. This study aims to profile the bioactive contents responsible for the folkloric usage of the two plants in the treatment of diabetes and identify the possible in vitro mechanisms involved. Antioxidant properties such as free radical scavenging potential against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide and hydroxyl radicals were determined following established procedures. Ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP), Fe2+ chelating ability, as well as the ability of the extracts to inhibit iron (II)-induced hepatic, renal and pancreatic lipid peroxidation in vitro, were assayed following standard protocols. Bioactive constituents of the extracts were also identified using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS)). At the same time, their antidiabetic potentials were measured in vitro by their inhibitory effects on alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase. Results indicate that both plants demonstrated marked free radical scavenging activities, iron chelation as well as significant inhibition of lipid peroxidation. A mixture of both plants exhibited stronger inhibition of alpha-amylase and glucosidase than acarbose. On GC-MS chromatogram, 16 and 23 bioactive constituents were identified in V. amygdalina extract and a mixture of M. indica and V. amygdalina extracts respectively. A mixture of both plants’ extracts enhanced their bioactive profile, antioxidant activity, and antidiabetic potentials in vitro. This study provides the scientific basis for the traditional usage of both plants in the management of diabetes particularly in low-income nations where the cost of conventional treatment is not affordable.