TOTAL PHENOLIC CONTENT, ALPHA-GLUCOSIDASE INHIBITORY AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES METHANOLIC EXTRACTS FROM Ficus simplicissima Lour.
Main Article Content
Abstract
Plant extracts are widely studied for anti-diabetic potential as safer alternatives to synthetic drugs. In this study, methanolic extracts from different parts of Ficus simplicissima Lour. collected in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam were examined for total phenolic content (TPC), α-glucosidase inhibitory, and antioxidant. TPC of extracts ranged between 16.53 ± 0.08 and 71.90 ± 2.89 mg GAE/g extract, with the highest concentration in leaves extract. The leaves and fruits extracts showed strong α-glucosidase inhibition, with the IC50 of 24.48 ± 0.13 and 98.89 ± 1.33 µg/mL, respectively, showing greater potency than acarbose. Besides, the leaves extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in DPPH (IC50 = 21.63 ± 2.28 µg/mL), ABTS (IC50 = 25.80 ± 1.69 µg/mL), and ferricyanide-reducing (EC50 = 134.20 ± 4.61 µg/mL) assays. Compared to vitamin C, the leaves extract showed notable antioxidant activity with a potency difference of only about 7-8 times in three studied antioxidant assays. These results suggest leaves as a promising source of biologically active compounds for antidiabetic applications, although further in vivo validation is necessary to confirm their efficacy and safety.
Keywords
F. simplicissima L., α-glucosidase, phenolic, antioxidant, methanolic extract
Article Details
References
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Yadav, R. N. S., & Agarwala, M. (2011). Phytochemical analysis of some medicinal plants. Journal of Phytology, 3(12), 10–14.
Yin, Z., Zhang, W., Feng, F., Zhang, Y., & Kang, W. (2014). α-Glucosidase inhibitors isolated from medicinal plants. Food Science and Human Wellness, 3(3), 136–174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fshw.2014.11.003
Bui Anh Tuyet. (2024). Alpha-glucosidase inhibitory and antioxidant activities of ethyl acetate extract from Graphis sp. mycobiont. Ho Chi Minh City University of Education Journal of Science, 21(3), 381. https://doi.org/10.54607/hcmue.js.21.3.4063(2024)
Chiba, S. (1997). Molecular mechanism in α-glucosidase and glucoamylase. Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, 61(8), 1233–1239. https://doi.org/10.1271/bbb.61.1233
Dai, J., & Mumper, R. J. (2010). Plant phenolics: Extraction, analysis and their antioxidant and anticancer properties. Molecules, 15(10), 7313–7352. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules15107313
Derosa, G., & Maffioli, P. (2012). α-Glucosidase inhibitors and their use in clinical practice. Archives of Medical Science: AMS, 8(5), 899–906. https://doi.org/10.5114/aoms.2012.31621
Floegel, A., Kim, D.-O., Chung, S.-J., Koo, S. I., & Chun, O. K. (2011). Comparison of ABTS/DPPH assays to measure antioxidant capacity in popular antioxidant-rich US foods. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 24(7), 1043–1048. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2011.01.008.
Idris, U., Nasir, A., Kankia, I., Yaradua, I., Muhammad, I., Abdullahi, A., Gambo, R., & Bala, H. (2025). In vitro Alpha- Amylase and Alpha- Glucosidase Inhibitory Effects of the Methanolic Leaf Extract of Ficus abutilifolia. Asian Journal of Research in Biochemistry, 15, 131–142. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajrb/2025/v15i4413
Lin, D., Xiao, M., Zhao, J., Li, Z., Xing, B., Li, X., Kong, M., Li, L., Zhang, Q., Liu, Y., Chen, H., Qin, W., Wu, H., & Chen, S. (2016). An overview of plant phenolic compounds and their importance in human nutrition and management of type 2 diabetes. Molecules, 21(10), 1374. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21101374
Madhavi, D. L., & Salunkhe, D. K. (1995). Toxicological Aspects of Food Antioxidants. In Food Antioxidants. CRC Press.
Madrigal-Santillán, E., Portillo-Reyes, J., Morales-González, J. A., Sánchez-Gutiérrez, M., Izquierdo-Vega, J. A., Valadez-Vega, C., Álvarez-González, I., Chamorro-Cevallos, G., Morales-González, Á., Garcia-Melo, L. F., Batina, N., Paniagua-Pérez, R., & Madrigal-Bujaidar, E. (2024). A review of Ficus L. genus (Moraceae): A source of bioactive compounds for health and disease. Part 1. American Journal of Translational Research, 16(11), 6236–6273. https://doi.org/10.62347/MVBZ4789
Magliano, D., & Boyko, E. J. (with International Diabetes Federation). (2025). Diabetes atlas (11th edition). International Diabetes Federation.
Maritim, A. C., Sanders, R. A., & Watkins III, J. B. (2003). Diabetes, oxidative stress, and antioxidants: A review. Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology, 17(1), 24–38. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbt.10058
Nathan, D. M. (2007). Finding new treatments for diabetes - How many, how fast… How good? The New England Journal of Medicine, 356(5), 437–440. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp068294
Nenadis, N., Wang, L.-F., Tsimidou, M., & Zhang, H.-Y. (2004). Estimation of scavenging activity of phenolic compounds using the ABTS•+ assay. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 52(15), 4669–4674. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf0400056
Nguyen, N. V. T., Duong, N. T., Nguyen, K. N. H., Bui, N. T., Pham, T. L. T., Nguyen, K. T., Le, P. H., & Kim, K. H. (2022). Effect of extraction solvent on total phenol, flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity of Avicennia officinalis. Biointerface Research in Applied Chemistry, 12(2), 2678–2690. https://doi.org/10.33263/BRIAC122.26782690
Nurviana, V., Tuslinah, L., & Susanti. (2020). Antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of Ficus elastica L. leaves. Advances in Health Sciences Research, 25, 53–56. https://doi.org/10.2991/ahsr.k.200523.015
Önder, D., Erdoğan, Ü., & Önder, S. (2023). Comparison of biochemical and antioxidant activities of ultrasonic-assisted extraction with different solvents in olive leaf. Biotech Studies, 32(1), 031–040.
Osiako, F., Samuel, B., & Oluyemi, W. (2023). Effects of selected Terminalia and Ficus species in the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. Tropical Journal of Natural Product Research, 7(8). https://doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v7i8.31
Oyaizu, M. (1986). Studies on products of browning reaction. Antioxidative activities of products of browning reaction prepared from glucosamine. The Japanese Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics. https://doi.org/10.5264/eiyogakuzashi.44.307
Padma, R., Parvathy, N. G., Renjith, V., & Rahate, K. P. (2013). Quantitative estimation of tannins, phenols and antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of Imperata cylindrica. International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 4(1), 73–77.
Prior, R. L., Wu, X., & Schaich, K. (2005). Standardized methods for the determination of antioxidant capacity and phenolics in foods and dietary supplements. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 53(10), 4290–4302. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf0502698
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. (n.d.). Ficus simplicissima Lour. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved March 20, 2026, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:853709-1
Shrivastav, D., Dabla, P. K., Sharma, J., Viswas, A., & Mir, R. (2023). Insights on antioxidant therapeutic strategies in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A narrative review of randomized control trials. World Journal of Diabetes, 14(6), 919–929. https://doi.org/10.4239/wjd.v14.i6.919
Torres-Benítez, A., Ortega-Valencia, J. E., Jara-Pinuer, N., Sanchez, M., Vargas-Arana, G., Gómez-Serranillos, M. P., & Simirgiotis, M. J. (2023). Antioxidant and antidiabetic activity and phytoconstituents of lichen extracts with temperate and polar distribution. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1251856
Türker, H. (2009). Sensitivity of bacteria isolated from fish to some medicinal plants. Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 9, 181–186. https://doi.org/10.4194/trjfas.2009.0209
Vu, C. D. (2023). Exploring phenolic contents, antioxidant and in vitro anti-inflammatory activities of Ficus hispida L.f. Leaves. Thu Dau Mot University Journal of Science, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.37550/tdmu.EJS/2023.01.369
Wang, Y., Liu, X., Chen, S., Wang, Q., Jin, B., & Wang, L. (2024). Functions, accumulation, and biosynthesis of important secondary metabolites in the fig tree (Ficus carica). Frontiers in Plant Science, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1397874
Yadav, R. N. S., & Agarwala, M. (2011). Phytochemical analysis of some medicinal plants. Journal of Phytology, 3(12), 10–14.
Yin, Z., Zhang, W., Feng, F., Zhang, Y., & Kang, W. (2014). α-Glucosidase inhibitors isolated from medicinal plants. Food Science and Human Wellness, 3(3), 136–174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fshw.2014.11.003