Phytoextracts and hypoglycemic potential of I. sonorae, C. limetta, and B. media

Abstract

Abstract In Mexican traditional medicine, several herbs are used for their potential antidiabetic effects. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the antihyperglycemic effects of I. sonorae, C. limetta, and B. media. Aqueous extracts of these herbs demonstrated a consistent reduction in postprandial blood glucose levels in healthy rats during a starch oral tolerance test. Notably, B. media and I. sonorae exhibited significant in vitro inhibitory effects against alpha-amylase activity (20.5 and 25.4%, respectively), while B. media enhanced glucose uptake in adipocytes by 4.0-fold, which was related to the overexpression of key genes involved in insulin signaling cascade including Glut4, Irs1, and Pi3k (2.9-, 2.6-, and 3.2-fold, respectively). Furthermore, multivariate analysis highlighted that hydroxybenzoic acid hexoside and feruloylquinic acid were linked to their alpha -amylase inhibitory activity, while 17 distinct polyphenols were associated with the insulin mimetic activity. These findings propose a potential application of these herbs in the development of herb-based functional beverages with promising anti-diabetic attributes.