Tukiran T. Tukiran, Syahrul L. Hendrawan, Andika P. Wardana
Context: The α-glucosidase enzyme plays a key role in postprandial hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus. This condition results in elevated blood glucose levels that exceed physiological limits in patients with diabetes mellitus. Desmanthus virgatus is a wild plant that contains various secondary metabolite compounds that can inhibit the activity of the α-glucosidase enzyme. Aims: To evaluate the inhibitory activity of the ethyl acetate extract of D. virgatus leaves against α-glucosidase enzyme through in silico and in vitro approaches. Methods: The content of secondary metabolite compounds of the ethyl acetate extract of D. virgatus leaves was analyzed using an LC-MS instrument, which was then continued with molecular docking analysis. Research on the inhibitory activity of the α-glucosidase enzyme using the ethyl acetate extract of D. virgatus leaves was conducted at five concentrations: 1.25, 6.25, 25.00, 50.00, and 100.00 µg/mL. Results: LC-MS analysis identified 182 phytochemicals with 25 dominant flavonoids. Nineteen compounds fulfilled Lipinski’s rule of five and were subjected to molecular docking, where luteolin-7-glucoside showed the strongest binding affinity (-9.52 kcal/mol) compared to acarbose (-9.25 kcal/mol). In vitro assays revealed a strong inhibitory effect with an IC50 of 7.14 ± 0.42 µg/mL, comparable to acarbose (4.64 ± 0.21 µg/mL). Conclusions: These findings suggest that the ethyl acetate extract of D. virgatus exhibits promising α-glucosidase enzyme inhibitory activity and could be developed as a potential antidiabetic agent. © (2026), (Academic Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences from Antofagasta (ASOCIFA)). All rights reserved.
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia
