Acacia jacquemontii ethyl acetate extract reduces hyperglycemia and pro-inflammatory markers while increasing endogenous antioxidant potential in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Acacia jacquemontii possess has numerous traditional therapeutic uses. The rationale of this study was to investigate the role of Acacia jacquemontii ethyl acetate extract (AJEAE) in the downregulation of hyperglycemia. The current study was performed in two parts, in vitro, through characterization (high-performance liquid chromatography), estimation of total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazylassay), and α-amylase inhibitory activities of the studied extract, and in vivo using Wistar rats in which animals were divided into five groups NC, DC, GL, AJEAE 250 mg/kg, and AJEAE 500 mg/kg. The effects of AJEAE on fasting plasma glucose, plasma insulin, HOMA-IR, oral glucose tolerance test, glycated hemoglobin (HBA1c), lipid profile, inflammatory cytokines (Interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha), and oxidative stress markers (lipid peroxidation, nitic oxide, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase) were evaluated. Our findings confirmed the presence of quercetin, kaempferol, gallic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, M-coumaric acid, sinapic acid, chlorogenic acid, cinnamic acid, and ferulic acid in AJEAE. Total flavonoid and phenolic contents in AJEAE were 83.83 mg GAE/g and 77.06 mg QE/g, respectively. Significant inhibition of DPPH (69.470%/1 mg/ml) and α-amylase (71.8%/1 mg/ml) activities were exhibited by AJEAE. Alloxan-injected rats showed marked hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia, and increased inflammatory marker levels as compared to normal control (p < 0.001). Additionally, raised levels of triglyceride (139.7 ± 2.771), total cholesterol (198.7 ± 1.856), very low-density lipoprotein (33.43 ± 0.2728), low-density lipoprotein (155.5 ± 2.754), lipid peroxidation, and nitric oxide (p < 0.001) and decreased levels of high-density lipoprotein (17.20 ± 0.1732), superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase were observed in diabetic rats (p < 0.001). AJEAE significantly (p < 0.05) improved the aforementioned parameters and the protective efficacy was comparable to glibenclamide. Histopathological findings also evidenced the anti-hyperglycemic properties of AJEAE through regeneration of pancreatic β cells. Conclusively, our findings demonstrated the antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and pancreatic beta β cell regenerative properties of AJEAE against alloxan-induced diabetes.