Antidiabetic effect of hydro-methanol extract of Prunus cerasus L fruits and identification of its bioactive compounds

Purpose: To investigate the antidiabetic effect of hydro-methanol extract of Prunus cerasus fruit extract. Methods: The antidiabetic activity was assessed in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The effect of P. cerasus fruit extract on plasma fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin, C-peptide, total protein, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total hemoglobin, reduced glutathione (GSH), vitamins E and C, ceruloplasmin, lipid profile, histology of the pancreas, and expression of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT-4) were determined using standard procedures. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for phytochemical analysis. Results: Alloxan-induced diabetes significantly reduced plasma levels of insulin, C-peptide, total hemoglobin and total protein, and significantly increased FBG and HbA1c levels (p < 0.05). However, after treatment with the extract, changes in the levels of these parameters were significantly and dosedependently reversed (p < 0.05). The extract also increased the levels of GSH, vitamins E and C, and. Alloxan-induced DM significantly increased the levels of triacylglycerols (TGs), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and significantly reduced the level of total cholesterol (TC) at different time points (p < 0.05). However, after treatment, the levels of TG, LDL-C and HDL-C declined but TC level was significantly elevated time- and dose-dependently by the extract (p< 0.05). The extract upregulated the expression of GLUT-4 mRNA in soleus muscle and adipose tissue. LC-MS analysis revealed that the extract contained chlorogenic acid, rutin, diadzin, amygdalin, quercetin and naringenin. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study have shown that hydromethanol extract of P. cerasus fruits exhibits remarkable antidiabetic effects.