Phytochemical study and antioxidant, antibacterial and antidiabetic activities of flacourtia indica leaves extracts from the togolese flora

Objective: Faced with the devastating effect of diabetes, the search for new natural antidiabetic molecules is an exploratory avenue. Methods: In this study, the leaves of Flacourtia indica were collected from the Togolese flora, and their antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH and FRAP assays, following a phytochemical screening conducted through colorimetric and precipitation reactions. The content of total phenols was determined using Folin-Ciocalteu's reagent and flavonoids by aluminum trichloride. The antibacterial activity of the extracts was evaluated using the method of dilution in agar wells with Muller-Hinton® agar. Additionally, the extracts' antidiabetic effect was evaluated in rats made diabetic by alloxan at a dose of 120 mg/kg. b.w. Results: The results of our work showed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, anthocyanins, and saponins in the extracts. The best polyphenol and flavonoid contents were measured in the hydroethanolic extract and were 186.46±0.308 mg EqAG/g and 464.14±17.043 mgEqQ/g. ES respectively. The hydroethanolic extract has a higher antioxidant power with an IC50 = 110.22 µg/ml. The reducing powers of the ferric ions were 3706±12.124 and 3777±9.238 µmol/ml, respectively for the hydroethanolic and aqueous extracts. The extracts were active against Staphylococcus aureus and are bacteriostatic. The hydroethanolic extract of the leaves of Flacourtia indica significantly reduced (p = 0.0014) blood glucose levels in diabetic rats. Conclusion: This plant can therefore be a potential medicine in the treatment of diabetes.