title: A study of antioxidant activity, enzymatic inhibition and in vitro toxicity of selected traditional Sudanese plants with anti-diabetic potential.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease with life-threatening complications. Despite the enormous progress in conventional medicine and pharmaceutical industry, herbal-based medicines are still a common practice for the treatment of diabetes. This study evaluated ethanolic and aqueous extracts of selected Sudanese plants that are traditionally used to treat diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Extraction was carried out according to method described by Sukhdev et. al. and the extracts were tested for their glycogen phosphorylase inhibition, Brine shrimp lethality and antioxidant activity using (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and iron chelating activity. Extracts prepared from the leaves of Ambrosia maritima, fruits of Foeniculum vulgare and Ammi visnaga, exudates of Acacia Senegal, and seeds of Sesamum indicum and Nigella sativa.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nigella sativa ethanolic extract showed no toxicity on Brine shrimp Lethality Test, while its aqueous extract was toxic. All other extracts were highly toxic and ethanolic extracts of Foeniculum vulgare exhibited the highest toxicity. All plant extracts with exception of Acacia senegal revealed significant antioxidant activity in DPPH free radical scavenging assay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results highly agree with the ethnobotanical uses of these plants as antidiabetic. This study endorses further studies on plants investigated, to determine their potential for type 2 diabetes management. Moreover isolation and identification of active compounds are highly recommended.
authors.affiliation: Khartoum College of Medical Sciences, P,O Box 10995, Khartoum, Sudan. yasminabusamra@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Yasmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hilmi
authors.forename: Muna F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Abushama
authors.forename: Haidar
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abdalgadir
authors.forename: Asaad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khalid
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khalid
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D001156:Artemia / Q000187:drug effects; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D024981:Glycogen Phosphorylase / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D011817:Rabbits; D013397:Sudan
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D024981:Glycogen Phosphorylase