PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIDIABETIC EVALUATION OF LEAF EXTRACTS FROM DIOSPYROS BLANCOI A. DC.

The objective of the study was to determine the phytochemicals present in the leaf extracts of Diospyros blancoi A. DC and to evaluate its antioxidant and antidiabetic activities. Qualitative phytochemical tests were used to detect the presence of bioactive compounds present in leaf extracts of D. blancoi. Antioxidant activity was measured through diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay, and antidiabetic potential was done using alloxan induced white mice. Based on the results, the following bioactive constituents are present in the leaves: alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, anthraquinones, steroids, and glycosides in both ethanol and water extracts of D. blancoi. Moreover, results showed that the ethanolic extract had better antioxidant activity compared to water extract. Furthermore, results also showed that both ethanolic and waterleaf extracts had significant antidiabetic effects to alloxan-induced diabetic white mice as shown in their ability to reduce blood glucose level. Results indicate that extracts of D. blancoi leaves are potential sources of natural antioxidant and antidiabetic compounds and could have potential use in the management of diabetes.