The Analysis of Artabotrys hexapetalus Stem Bark and Leaf Ethanol Extract as α-Glucosidase Inhibitor in Relation to Antioxidant Activity, Phenolic, and Flavonoid Contents Using In Vitro Analysis, LC-MS, Machine Learning and Molecular Docking

Abstract

Artabotrys hexapetalus is one of Artabotrys species that can be found in Asia, such as Sri Lanka, India, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian countries. This plant is used traditionally as a herbal medicine. The aims of this research were to explore the potential of A. hexapetalus leaf and stem bark ethanol extract to treat type 2 diabetes (T2D) by inhibiting the activity of α-glucosidase, including its relationship with the antioxidant activity, phenolic content, and flavonoid content. The analysis was done using α-glucosidase inhibition assay, DPPH assay, FRAP assay, TPC, TFC, UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS, and molecular docking analysis. Results showed that stem bark extract had medium strong α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC50 value of 47.084 ppm, whereas the leaf extract had weak α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC50 value of 104.755 ppm. Random permutation in random forest simulation was used to predict the factors that contribute to the α-glucosidase inhibition. For stem bark, the α-glucosidase inhibition activity was influenced by antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds. Nevertheless, the main active compounds that play role in α-glucosidase inhibition in stem bark were likely from terpene groups. Meanwhile, the active compounds in the leaf extract were likely not antioxidants and did not belong to the phenolic and flavonoid group. Comparisons between various analysis were shown to corroborate the random permutation results.