Computational, chemical profiling and biochemical evaluation of antidiabetic potential of Parkia biglobosa stem bark extract in type 2 model of rats

Abstract

The present study investigated the antidiabetic and antioxidant capacity of hydromethanol extract from Parkia biglobosa stem bark (PBSBHM) in fructose-streptozotocin induced type 2 diabetic rats after 28 days of oral administration. Simultaneously, evaluated the phenolic profiles and mineral compositions of crude extract. Molecular docking analysis of protocatechuic acid, the most abundant phenolic acid with potential downstream partners protein kinase A (PKA), protein kinase C (PKC), and Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMK II), was investigated. The preliminary results showed that PBSBHM crude extract contained 225.2 ± 18.25 mg GAE/g of total phenolic and 99.28 ± 12.3 mg QE/g of total flavonoid. Both protocatechuic and gallic acids were identified as a prominent phenolic compound through HPLC analysis, while vanillic acid was not detected. High mineral composition of K, Mg, P, Ca while Mn and Cr as trace elements were found in PBSBHM by plasma optical emission spectroscopy. PBSBHM extracts showed a significant radical scavenging activity from a therapeutic point of view, a moderate antioxidant potential and improved glucose tolerance after 30 min of glucose loading. PBSBHM extracts significantly attenuated serum glucose level and glycosylated haemoglobin at the tested dosage. However, it elevated the hepatic hexokinase activity and glycogen level compared with the diabetic untreated rats. PBSBHM ameliorates the decreased activity of pancreatic superoxide dismutase, catalase and reduced glutathione but decreased the MDA level. Docking analysis of protocatechuic acid showed a moderate affinity for the target enzymes compared to the standard drugs. Our data showed that the stem bark extract of this botanical has antidiabetic potential and at least in part substantiates its traditional use in the management of diabetes, possibly due to the synergistic interactions of protocatechuic acid with other biologically active components.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Keywords:

• Parkia biglobosa
• phenolic acids
• mineral analysis
• type 2 diabetes
• molecular docking
• antioxidant

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the South Africa Agency for Science and Technology Advancement for the financial support for mineral analysis. The authors thank Prof. D. A. Akinpelu (Department of Microbiology, University of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria) for the collection of the plant sample.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or from profit sectors.