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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. 3 (2026)

Antidiabetic efficacy of Terminalia catappa leaves evaluated using in vitro, in vivo and in silico models

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.12384
Submitted
22 October 2025
Published
28-09-2026 — Updated on 30-09-2026
Versions

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that affects insulin secretion or action. The global rate of diabetes has been rising steadily, highlighting the need for new treatments from natural sources. This study aimed to assess the anti-diabetic effects of Terminalia catappa leaf extract through in vitro, in vivo and in silico methods. We extracted leaves using ethanol and then carried out phytochemical screening and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. We evaluated in vitro anti-diabetic activity through alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzyme inhibition tests. For in vivo evaluation, we treated streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with the extract and compared the results to those of glibenclamide, which served as a standard control. We measured key biochemical parameters after the treatment period. We also conducted molecular docking studies to support our in silico rationale. Phytochemical screening of the ethanolic extract revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids and alkaloids. GC-MS analysis found 25 phytocompounds in the leaf extract. In vitro assays showed significant inhibition of alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes. In vivo results indicated that biochemical changes caused by streptozotocin were greatly reduced in rats treated with the extract, with values close to those in the glibenclamide-treated group. In silico analysis also indicated favourable binding interactions between certain phytocompounds and the target enzymes. These findings provide initial evidence supporting the anti-diabetic potential of T. catappa leaf extract across different experimental models. The identified phytocompounds deserve further study as possible candidates for developing anti-diabetic treatments. However, more preclinical and clinical research is needed before any therapeutic applications can be confirmed.

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