Phytochemical Evaluation and Antidiabetic Potential of Two Medicinal Plants Launaea taraxacifolia and Alternanthera brasiliana

Abstract

The high rate of mortality has been attributed to the presence of disease such as diabetic and this has called for all possible interventions especially from botanical sources. The use of plant to treat and manage diabetic has continue to yield positive outcome among global population and this has given room for more exploration among researchers of medicinal plants. In this present work, phytochemical analysis and antidiabetic activity of methanol extract of Launaea taraxacifoliaand Alternanthera brasiliawere investigated. Methanol was used for the extraction of leaves of Launaea taraxacifolia and Alternanthera brasilia and phytochemicals were quantitatively determined. Antidiabetic activities of the plants extract were determined via in vitro alpha- amylase and alpha – glucosidase assay. The phytochemical analysis showed the present of alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, phenols and tannis in the two plants. Quantitatively, Launaea taraxacifolia and Alternanthera brasiliana have total phenol of 203.50 ± 0.10 mgGAE/g and 127. 65 ± 0.12 mgGAE/g respectively. The two plant extracts were used at varying concentration and they displayed antidiabetic potential by inhibiting the two enzymes in vitro. The two plant extracts examined were observed to be concentration dependent., at 7.5 mg/mL, Alternanthera brasiliana and Launaea taraxacifolia gave 79.45% and 70.76 % inhibitory activities respectively while a lower concentration (1 mg/mL), a low inhibitory activity were observed in the two plant extracts. The presence of the phenols, alkaloids and flavonoids suggest the therapeutic potential of Alternanthera brasiliana and Launaea taraxacifolia. Also, the inhibitory actions of the plant extracts against the enzymes responsible for diabetic clearly suggest their antidiabetic potential.