PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILING AND IN VITRO ANTIDIABETIC AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF BETULA UTILIS EXTRACT AND ITS FRACTIONS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2026v19i3.57489Keywords:
Betula utilis, Antidiabetic, antioxidant activity, DPPH, α-amylase inhibition, methanolic extract, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay, 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid method.Abstract
Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical profile of Betula utilis stem bark extracts and assess their antioxidant and in vitro antidiabetic activities through α-amylase inhibition to support their traditional use in diabetes management.
Methods: Powdered stem bark was extracted using 80% ethanol and 80% methanol. The resulting crude extracts were further fractionated into diethyl ether, chloroform, and ethyl acetate fractions. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay. α-Amylase inhibitory activity was evaluated using the 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid method. Extraction yields were calculated on a dry weight basis. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were measured using the Folin–Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride colorimetric methods, respectively.
Results: The 80% methanolic extract demonstrated the highest antioxidant activity (55.40±1.62) and α-amylase inhibition (40.27±1.21), outperforming the 80% ethanol extract and individual fractions. Among fractions, the chloroform fraction exhibited the greatest α-amylase inhibition (23.30±0.68), while the diethyl ether fraction showed the lowest activity (7.57±0.21). The data suggest that moderately non-polar phytochemicals contribute significantly to enzyme inhibition, while the superior activity of the crude methanolic extract indicates synergistic interactions among bioactive constituents.
Conclusion: B. utilis stem bark contains bioactive compounds with promising antidiabetic potential. The 80% methanolic extract demonstrated notable α-amylase inhibitory and antioxidant activities in vitro, supporting its traditional use. However, cytotoxicity and safety evaluations are essential as the next step, followed by in vivo studies and isolation and characterization of active constituents to assess its therapeutic potential.
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