Assessment of antioxidant activity and hypoglycemic and anti-hyperglycemic effects of the hydroethanolic extract of the trunk bark of Lannea acida A. Rich. (Anacardiaceae) in male NMRI mice

Abstract

Lannea acida A. Rich (Anacardiaceae) is a plant widely used in African traditional medicine to treat various ailments, including diabetes and infertility. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and anti-hyperglycemic activities of the hydroethanolic extract from its trunk bark in male NMRI mice. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Hypoglycemic effects were tested in fasting normoglycemic mice divided into five groups (n=5). The anti-hyperglycemic activity was evaluated via an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) on five groups of NMRI male mice (n=5). The extract showed an IC50 of 0.630 ± 0.003 mg/mL and a ferric ion reducing capacity of 393.13 ± 20.13 mg EAA/g. Oral administration of the extract at 40, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight (bw) did not produce hypoglycemic effects compared to glibenclamide. However, at 200 mg/kg bw, the extract slightly reduced glucose-induced hyperglycemia (4 g/kg bw), though not significantly. This effect was weaker than that of glibenclamide (5 mg/kg). These findings suggest that Lannea acida possesses antioxidant and mild anti-hyperglycemic properties without inducing hypoglycemia, supporting its potential use in developing affordable phytomedicines.