ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY OF OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) FRUIT EXTRACT

Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by increasing blood glucose level caused by lack of insulin hormone. One of the plants that were often used as traditional medicine for diabetes in Indonesia was okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) fruit. The aim of this research was to evaluate the antidiabetes activity of okra fruit extract. The study was divided into several steps: a preliminary study of anthyperglycemia of okra fruit after glucose, sucrose, and amylum administration; antidiabetic activity in insulin deficiency animal model developed by aloxan administration and insulin resistance animal model developed by lipid emulsion administration, and in vitro study of α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzyme inhibition activity. The result showed that the extract group had antihyperglycemia activity after glucose, sucrose, and amylum administration. In insulin deficiency animal model, glibenclamide and extract could decrease blood glucose level. In insulin resistance animal, metformin and extract could increase constantly of insulin tolerance test. From the α-glucosidase inhibition activity, it was known the acarbose’s IC50 was 44.374 μg/mL, while okra fruit extract was 1533.742 μg/mL. And the IC50 value of acarbose to α-amylase enzyme was 46.821 μg / mL, while okra fruit extract was 1228.469 μg / mL. In conclusion, okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) fruit extract with a dose of 50 mg/kg bw had the antidiabetic activity with the mechanism of action by increasing insulin secretion, increasing insulin sensitivity, and inhibiting carbohydrate absorption in the intestine; but couldn’t inhibit alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase enzyme.