In vitro Anti-diabetic Activity of Aqueous Methanolic Extract of Ailanthus Altissima Bark

Abstract

The intestinal digestive enzyme alpha-glucosidase plays a vital role in the carbohydrate digestion. One anti-diabetic therapeutic approach reduces the postprandial glucose level by the inhibition of the alpha-glucosidase enzyme. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-diabetic activity of extract of Ailanthus altissima bark, in vitro. Three different plant extracts were formulated by using distilled water, methanol, and a mixture of methanol and water (70:30) to compare the best effect of the extract, while distilled water and metformin were used as negative and positive controls.  Four different concentrations of plant extract in all solvents were used to find percentage inhibition of alpha-glucosidase. Maximum percentage inhibition was examined against 1.5 mL of all solvent extracts but aqueous methanolic plant extract showed maximum73% inhibition that was comparable to standard drug inhibition (80%). One-way ANOVA was followed for statistical analysis to find out the P-value based on which most significant and insignificant were declared.  Aqueous methanolic plant extract showed the most significant results because the value of p<0.5 through the goodness of the model while aqueous plant extract showed insignificant results because the P- value is > 0.05.  The assay results suggest that the presence of bioactive compounds are responsible for the versatile medicinal properties against diabetes, the aqueous methanolic extract exhibit a dose-dependent increase in inhibitory effect on alpha-glucosidase enzyme up to 73%. The current study proves aqueous methanolic extract of A. altissima bark has anti-diabetic activity in vitro and is a strong candidate for postprandial control of blood glucose level.