Antidiabetic potential of polysaccharides from Algerian Saharan Zygophyllum geslini instreptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Authors

HOURIA MEDJDOUBFollow
WAFFA BOUALIFollow
AREZKI AZZIFollow
NACERA BELKACEMFollow
NABILA BENARIBAFollow
NAWEL MELIANIFollow

Abstract

Background/aim: Zygophyllum geslini, an endemic Algerian species, has numerous properties, especially as an antidiabeticdrug. In Algeria, this herb serves as condiment in Saharan dishes and as animal feed (Sheep, Goat and Camel). However, fewscientific studies have reported on the medicinal properties of this Saharan species. The aims of the present work were to study 1) thechemical aspects of polysaccharides extracted from this plant, 2) their inhibitory effect on pancreatic α-amylase in vitro, and 3) theirantihyperglycemic effect in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats in vivo.Materials and methods: First, polysaccharides were extracted from Z. geslini aerial part (ZGAP) in hot water and precipitated withethanol to obtain ethanolic polysaccharides and with acetone to obtain acetonic polysaccharides. The extracts were characterized usingFourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. In vitro antidiabetic evaluation was performed using pancreatic α-amylase, an enzymerelated to diabetes. In addition, ethanolic polysaccharides were tested in vivo in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats for 4 weeks. Therats received 100 mg/kg ZGAP ethanolic polysaccharides.Results: FTIR spectra showed that ZGAP polysaccharides were heterogeneous in composition, with extraction yield of 14.07 ± 2.61and 4.48 ± 1.01 g/100 g of dry ZGAP and had a neutral pH (7.03 and 7.2) for ethanolic and acetonic polysaccharides, respectively.Furthermore, ZGAP polysaccharides showed potential as an α-amylase inhibitor, with IC50 = 3.53 ± 0.09 μg/mL for ethanolic and 7.31 ±0.42 μg/mL for acetonic polysaccharides. Ethanolic polysaccharides were able to correct hyperglycemia caused by streptozotocin damage.A significant decrease in blood glucose levels and improvement in oral glucose tolerance were observed with ethanolic polysaccharides.Ethanolic polysaccharides extract enhanced the body weight evolution in diabetic rats.Conclusion: Based on these findings, we conclude that ZGAP polysaccharides have interesting in vivo and in vitro antidiabetic activities.

Author ORCID Identifier

HOURIA MEDJDOUB: 0000-0003-2765-7152

WAFFA BOUALI: 0000-0002-5218-5217

AREZKI AZZI: 0000-0001-9547-9998

NACERA BELKACEM: 0009-0009-5149-1894

NABILA BENARIBA: 0000-0002-7329-5888

NAWEL MELIANI: 0009-0000-7547-2692

DOI

10.55730/1300-0152.2724

Keywords

Polysaccharides extracts, pancreatic α-amylase, streptozotocin, Wistar rat, Zygophyllum geslini

First Page

60

Last Page

69

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

MEDJDOUB, HOURIA; BOUALI, WAFFA; AZZI, AREZKI; BELKACEM, NACERA; BENARIBA, NABILA; and MELIANI, NAWEL (2025) "Antidiabetic potential of polysaccharides from Algerian Saharan Zygophyllum geslini instreptozotocin-induced diabetic rats," Turkish Journal of Biology: Vol. 49: No. 1, Article 6. https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-0152.2724
Available at: https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/biology/vol49/iss1/6