Antidiabetic Activity of Apigenin (4, 5, 7 – Trihydroxy Flavone) from Leaves of Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (L) Vahl (Verbennaceae)

Background: Apigenin is a polyphenolic compound that belongs to the class of flavonoids and is considered highly therapeutic.

Aim: To evaluate the antidiabetic activity of apigenin isolated from dichloromethane: methanol extract of leaves of Stachytarpheta jamiacensis (L) Vahl (Verbennaceae) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Methods: Cold maceration was used to extract the S. jamiacensis powdered leaves with dichloromethane: methanol (1:1). Hexane, dichloromethane, and aqueous methanol fractions of the extract were obtained through fractionation. To isolate the bioactive molecule, the dichloromethane fraction (DCMF) was then subjected to column chromatography and eluted with several solvent mixtures in ascending polarity order. With the aid of data from FTIR, UV, GC-MS, 1HNMR (400MHz), and 13CNMR (101MHz), the structure of the isolated compound was identified. The Phytochemical analysis of the isolate and acute toxicity study was done following standard procedures. The anti-diabetic potential of the isolate was assessed by determining fasting blood glucose levels on alloxan-induced rats at the dose of 25 and 50 mg/kg body weight.

Results: The compound was identified as apigenin (4, 5, 7 – trihydroxy flavones) and showed significant (p<0.05) reduction of 79.56 and 81.74 % in fasting blood glucose levels at the dose of 25 and 50 mg/kg respectively when compared with the standard drug (glibenclamide 83.40 %). The isolate's phytochemical analysis revealed flavonoids and the LD50 test demonstrates that apigenin was not harmful.

Conclusion: The findings show that the apigenin from Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (L) Vahl has potent anti-diabetic properties.