The potential of <i>Diospyros mespiliformis</i> and <i>Carissa edulis</i> leaves towards inhibition of protein glycation and oxidative stress

Abstract

Glycation is the spontaneous reaction between structural or functional proteins and reactive sugar moieties which results in the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). AGEs play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications, including natural aging, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation. As a result, the phytochemical profile, antioxidant and antiglycation activities of ethylacetate and chloroform extracts of Diospyros mespiliformis (DM) and Carissa edulis (CE) leaves were investigated, in vitro. In vitro DPPH free radical scavenging assay of the extracts was assessed while BSA-glucose glycation model was utilized to assess the in-vitro inhibition of protein glycation, using spectrofluorescent assay. The result showed that alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, steroids, triterpenes, cardiac glycosides, saponins and anthraquinones were present in the extracts of the plants. Furthermore, the extracts displayed a significantly (p < 0.05) low antioxidant activity (43%) compared with ascorbic acid (61%). Moreover, ethylacetate extract of DM leaves, exhibited a significantly (p < 0.05) high antiglycation effect (98%) in comparison with aminoguanidine (87%). The current study showed that ethylacetate and chloroform extracts of the plant leaves have potential effect towards lowering oxidative stress and protein glycation and should be further explored for drug discovery.