In vitro antioxidant and enzymatic inhibition properties of hydromethanolic extract of Chrysophyllum albidum stem bark

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus involves chronic hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, and elevated activity of digestive enzymes such as α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Plant-based antioxidants and enzyme inhibitors offer safer therapeutic alternatives. This study evaluated the in vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic properties of hydromethanolic extract of Chrysophyllum albidum stem bark. The extract contained high levels of phenolics (387.00 ± 13.00 µg GAE/g) and flavonoids (53.36 ± 0.15 µg QE/g). It demonstrated strong free radical scavenging activity in DPPH (IC50: 5.93 ± 1.33 µg/ml), ABTS (IC50: 10.10 ± 2.71 µg/ml), and nitric oxide (IC50: 53.89 ± 1.03 µg/ml) assays, along with notable total antioxidant capacity and ferric-reducing power. The extract also inhibited α-amylase (IC50: 45.00 ± 3.50 µg/ml) and α-glucosidase (IC50: 56.34 ± 0.64 µg/ml) comparably to acarbose. These results indicate that C. albidum stem bark mitigates oxidative stress and slows carbohydrate digestion, supporting its potential as a natural therapeutic candidate for managing postprandial hyperglycemia.