Phenolic Profile, Antioxidant Potential, and Antidiabetic Effects of Aristolochia longa Extracts in...

Aristolochia longa, a medicinal plant traditionally used in folk medicine, exhibits remarkable pharmacological properties primarily attributed to its bioactive-rich rhizomes. This study aimed to evaluate its phytochemical composition, in vitro antioxidant capacity, α-amylase inhibitory potential, and in vivo antidiabetic effects. Antioxidant assays, including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, β-carotene bleaching, and ferric reducing antioxidant power, revealed strong activity with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values of 238.45 ± 0.57 and 128.96 ± 67.04 µg/mL, and a 50% effective concentration of 5.88 ± 5.00 µg/mL, respectively. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis identified tannic acid, catechin, gallic acid, and caffeic acid as the major phenolic constituents. The extract also exhibited potent α-amylase inhibition (IC₅₀ = 0.470 ± 0.06 mg/mL). In vivo studies in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats treated with hydromethanolic extracts (250 and 500 mg/kg) showed significant reductions in blood glucose levels after 14 and 21 days of treatment. Oral glucose tolerance tests further confirmed its postprandial glucose-lowering effect. Moreover, the extracts exhibited a significant antilipidemic effect by improving lipid profile parameters. Overall, these findings indicate that A. longa rhizomes represent a promising natural source of bioactive compounds with potent antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antilipidemic properties.