Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Early Access

Anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effect of Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M.Perry via in vitro, in vivo and in silico models

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.12383
Submitted
22 October 2025
Published
10-09-2026

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most prevalent endocrine disorders, projected to affect over 300 million people by 2025. Despite the availability of several anti-diabetic drugs, their adverse effects have prompted the search for safer alternatives. The present study investigates the anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects of the ethanolic extract of Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M.Perry (clove). Dried clove powder was extracted using ethanol and subjected to phytochemical screening, revealing the presence of various bioactive constituents like phenols, terpenoids, alkaloids, etc. The extract was evaluated for in vitro anti-diabetic activity using α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition assays in our laboratory at Trichy. Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis identified major phytocompounds, including eugenol. In vivo studies were conducted on streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic albino rats, divided into five groups. Treatments included eugenol (10 mg/kg body weight), ethanolic extract (300 mg/kg body weight) and glibenclamide (3 mg/kg body weight) as a standard drug. The treated groups exhibited significant improvement in glucose and lipid profiles compared to diabetic controls. Docking studies further confirmed eugenol’s strong binding affinity to pancreatic amylase and glucosidase, supporting its inhibitory potential. Pancreatic α-amylase had a glide score of -6.8, pancreatic α- glucosidase had a score of -7.9 and the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) had a value of -7.3 kcal/mol. This effect may be the reason for its antidiabetic nature. The ethanolic extract of S. aromaticum and its key constituent eugenol demonstrated potent anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects, suggesting their potential use as natural therapeutic agents for diabetes management.

References

  1. 1. Burke JP, Williams K, Narayan KMV, Leibson C, Haffner SM, Stern MP. A population perspective on diabetes prevention: whom should we target for preventing weight gain? Diabetes Care. 2003;26(7):1999–2004. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.26.7.1999
  2. 2. World Health Organization. Traditional medicine strategy 2002–2005. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2002.
  3. 3. Raman PG. Diabetes mellitus in India: 2001. J Gen Med. 2002;14:5.
  4. 4. Supriya B, Kanika G, Sheila R, Arun K, Ramesh V, Stephan D, et al. Sugar kills—striking the young. India Today. 2003;6:16–24.
  5. 5. Joy PP, Thomas J, Mathew S, Baby P, Skaria BP. Medicinal plants. Kerala: Kerala Agricultural University, Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Research Station; 1998. p. 220.
  6. 6. Batiha GES, Beshbishy AA, Tayebwa DS, Shaheen MH, Yokoyama N, Igarashi I. Inhibitory effects of Syzygium aromaticum and Camellia sinensis methanolic extracts on the growth of Babesia and Theileria parasites. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2019;10(5):949–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.04.016
  7. 7. Cortés-Rojas DF, de Souza CR, Oliveira WP. Clove (Syzygium aromaticum): a precious spice. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2014;4(2):90–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2221-1691(14)60215-X
  8. 8. Chomchalow N. Spice production in Asia—an overview. In: Proceedings of the IBC's Asia Spice Markets 96 Conference; 1996; Singapore. p. 27-28.
  9. 9. Shan B, Cai YZ, Sun M, Corke H. Antioxidant capacity of 26 spice extracts and characterization of their phenolic constituents. J Agric Food Chem. 2005;53(20):7749–59. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf051513y
  10. 10. Hu FB, Willett WC. Optimal diets for prevention of coronary heart disease. JAMA. 2002;288(20):2569–78. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.288.20.2569
  11. 11. Jirovetz L, Buchbauer G, Stoilova I, Stoyanova A, Krastanov A, Schmidt E. Chemical composition and antioxidant properties of clove leaf essential oil. J Agric Food Chem. 2006;54(17):6303–307. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf060608c
  12. 12. Evans WC, Evans D. Pharmacognosy. 15th ed. London: Saunders Elsevier; 2002. p. 336–93.
  13. 13. Malik CP, Singh MB. Plant enzymology and histoenzymology. New Delhi: Kalyani Publishers; 1980. p. 278.
  14. 14. Krishnaveni S, Balasubramanian T, Sadasivam S. Sugar distribution in sweet stalk sorghum. Food Chem. 1984;15(3):229–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/0308-8146(84)90007-4
  15. 15. Sivajothi V, Shruthi SD. In vitro and in silico anti-diabetic activity of phthalic acid isolated from Phyllanthus rheedii. Int J Res Ayurveda Pharm. 2013;4(6):889–92. https://doi.org/10.7897/2277-4343.04623
  16. 16. El Faqer O, Bendiar S, Rais S, Elkoraichi I, Dakir M, Elouaddari A, et al. Phytochemical characterization and immunomodulatory effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts and essential oil of Syzygium aromaticum L. on human neutrophils. Sci Afr. 2022;18:e01395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2022.e01395
  17. 17. Nithyatharani R, Kavitha US. Phytochemical analysis of the leaves of Adhatoda vasica. Int J Creat Res Thoughts. 2018;6:451–54.
  18. 18. Lone ZA, Jain NK. Phytochemical analysis of clove (Syzygium aromaticum) dried flower buds extract and its therapeutic importance. J Drug Deliv Ther. 2022;12(4-S):87–92. https://doi.org/10.22270/jddt.v12i4-S.5628
  19. 19. Lebovitz HE. Α-glucosidase inhibitors as agents in the treatment of diabetes. Diabetes Rev. 1998;6:132–45.
  20. 20. Inzucchi SE. Oral antihyperglycemic therapy for type 2 diabetes. JAMA. 2002;287(3):360–72. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.287.3.360
  21. 21. Van de Laar FA, Lucassen PLBJ, Akkermans RP, Van de Lisdonk EH, Rutten GEHM, Van Weel C. Α-glucosidase inhibitors for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005;(2):CD003639.
  22. 22. Cheng AYY, Fantus IG. Oral antihyperglycemic therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus. CMAJ. 2005;172(2):213–26. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.1031414
  23. 23. Karthic K, Kirthiram KS, Sadasivam S, Thayumanavan B. Identification of α-amylase inhibitors from Syzygium cumini Linn. seeds. Indian J Exp Biol. 2008;46(9):677–80.
  24. 24. Manikandan R, Vijaya Anand A, Durai Muthumani G. Phytochemical and in vitro anti-diabetic activity of methanolic extract of Psidium guajava leaves. Int J Curr Microbiol Appl Sci. 2013;2(2):15–19.
  25. 25. Ali SM, Khan AA, Ahmed I, Musaddiq M, Ahmed KS, Polasa H, et al. Antimicrobial activities of eugenol and cinnamaldehyde against the human gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob. 2005;4:20. https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-0711-4-20
  26. 26. Hemaiswarya S, Doble M. Synergistic interaction of eugenol with antibiotics against Gram-negative bacteria. Phytomedicine. 2009;16(11):997–1005. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2009.04.006
  27. 27. Leem HH, Kim EO, Seo MJ, Choi SW. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of eugenol and its derivatives from clove (Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb.). J Korean Soc Food Sci Nutr. 2011;40(10):1361–70. https://doi.org/10.3746/jkfn.2011.40.10.1361
  28. 28. Vinholes J, Gonçalves P, Martel F, Coimbra MA, Rocha SM. Assessment of the antioxidant and antiproliferative effects of sesquiterpenic compounds in in vitro Caco-2 cell models. Food Chem. 2014;156:204–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.01.106
  29. 29. Curvelo JAR, Marques AM, Barreto ALS, Romanos MTV, Portela MBC, Kaplan MAC, et al. A novel nerolidol-rich essential oil from Piper claussenianum modulates Candida albicans biofilm. J Med Microbiol. 2014;63(Pt 5):697–702. https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.063834-0
  30. 30. Al-Trad B, Alkhateeb H, Alsmadi W, Al-Zoubi M. Eugenol ameliorates insulin resistance, oxidative stress and inflammation in high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Life Sci. 2019;216:183–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2018.11.034
  31. 31. Prince PSM, Kamalakkannan N. Rutin improves glucose homeostasis in streptozotocin diabetic tissues by altering glycolytic and gluconeogenic enzymes. J Biochem Mol Toxicol. 2006;20(2):96–102. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbt.20117
  32. 32. Koenig RJ, Peterson CM, Jones RL, Saudek C, Lehrman M, Cerami A. Correlation of glucose regulation and hemoglobin A1c in diabetes mellitus. N Engl J Med. 1976;295(8):417–20. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM197608192950804
  33. 33. Jackson CA, Yudkin JS, Forrest RD. A comparison of the relationships of the glucose tolerance test and the glycated haemoglobin assay with diabetic vascular disease in the community. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 1992;17(2):111–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-8227(92)90156-L
  34. 34. Bunn HF, Haney DN, Kamin S, Gabbay KH, Gallop PM. The biosynthesis of human hemoglobin A1c: slow glycosylation of hemoglobin in vivo. J Clin Invest. 1976;57(6):1652–59. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI108436
  35. 35. O'Doherty RM, Lehman DL, Telemaque-Potts S, Newgard CB. Metabolic impact of glucokinase overexpression in liver: lowering of blood glucose in fed rats is accompanied by hyperlipidemia. Diabetes. 1999;48(10):2022–27. https://doi.org/10.2337/diabetes.48.10.2022
  36. 36. Maiti R, Jana D, Das UK, Ghosh D. Antidiabetic effect of aqueous extract of seed of Tamarindus indica in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004;92(1):85–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2004.02.002
  37. 37. Arvind K, Pradeepa R, Deepa R, Mohan V. Diabetes and coronary artery disease. Indian J Med Res. 2002;116:163–76.
  38. 38. Bopanna KN, Kannan J, Gadgil S, Balaraman R, Rathod SP. Antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effect of neem seed kernel powder on alloxan diabetic rabbits. Indian J Pharmacol. 1997;29(3):162–67.
  39. 39. Kim SJ, Ju BJ, Choi WC, Kim CS. Hypoglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effect of four Korean medicinal plants in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Am J Biochem Biotechnol. 2006;2(4):154–60. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajbbsp.2006.154.160
  40. 40. Mizuguchi T. Study on lipids and fatty acids of the plasma and aortic walls in human and experimental atherosclerosis. Jpn Heart J. 1968;9(1):34–45. https://doi.org/10.1536/ihj.9.34
  41. 41. Patil UK, Saraf S, Dixit VK. Hypolipidemic activity of seeds of Cassia tora Linn. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004;90(2–3):249–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2003.10.007
  42. 42. Kaur G, Kamboj P, Kalia AN. Antidiabetic and anti-hypercholesterolemic effects of aerial parts of Sida cordifolia L. on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Indian J Nat Prod Resour. 2011;2(4):428–34.
  43. 43. Swaraz AM, Sultana F, Bari MW, Ahmed KS, Hasan M, Islam MM, et al. Phytochemical profiling of Blumea laciniata (Roxb.) DC. and its phytopharmaceutical potential against diabetes, obesity and Alzheimer's disease. Biomed Pharmacother. 2021;141:111859. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111859

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.