In vitro antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities of the bark of Ehretia acuminata R.Br.

Abstract

Ehretia acuminata is native to Southeast Asia, America, and Africa. It is commonly used as fodder and in quite a variety of medicinal applications. E. acuminata is widely used in India, but there are few reports in the literature of studies on its biological properties. In this study, the antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities of plant E. acuminata was evaluated. The antidiabetic activity of the different extracts was measured by α-amylase and α-glycosidase inhibition method. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by the egg albumin of hen. Petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol and water extracts of bark of E. acuminata was evaluated for in-vitro anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic activity. Ethyl acetate and ethanol extract showed significant anti-inflammatory effects (IC₅₀ 170 and 172 µg/mL respectively). Chloroform is the only extract that showed significant inhibition against the antidiabetic effect (IC₅₀ 42-45 µg/mL). The findings suggest that the bark of E. acuminata contains potential antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory compounds, which could be tested as drug candidates against diabetic and inflammation-related pathological processes in medicinal chemistry studies.