Multi-antidiabetic Properties and Cytotoxic Activities of Selected Indigenous Myanmar Medicinal Plants

ABSTRACT Antidiabetic and cytotoxic properties of selected indigenous Myanmar medicinal plants were assessed. In vitro scavenging assays of 2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl, nitric oxide, superoxide radicals, and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays were used to determine the antioxidant activities. Total phenolics were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu’s method. Antiglycation, α-glucosidase, and DPP-IV inhibitory assays were used to identify the antidiabetic activity. Cytotoxicity was investigated by the hemolytic activity of human red blood cells (RBCs). The leaf extract of Nauclea orientalis demonstrated the highest activity for DPPH inhibitory assay with an IC50 value of 29.57 ± 1.40 µg mL−1. The root extract of Acacia leucophloea was the most active in NO radical scavenging assay, α glucosidase inhibitory and antiglycation assay with IC50 value of 80.62 ± 5.36, 1.93 ± 0.08, and 4.63 ± 0.16 µg mL−1, respectively, and had the highest FRAP with an OD620 value of 0.38 ± 0.010. The Juniperus communis powder extract had the best activity for antiglycation and DPP-IV inhibitory assay with IC50 values of 4.50 ± 0.11 and 58.56 ± 4.03 µg mL−1, respectively. Phyllanthus reticulatus leaf extracts had the highest SO radical scavenging activity with IC50 values of 44.12 ± 4.75 µg mL−1. All extracts had relatively low cytotoxicity with a range of 9.13–17.92% lysis to RBCs.