Aegle marmelos Leaf Extract Phytochemical Analysis, Cytotoxicity, In Vitro Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Activities

Abstract

For many years, <i>Aegle marmelos</i> (<i>A. marmelos</i>) has been used medicinally and as a dietary supplement. Despite this, there are minimal research data on <i>A. marmelos</i> phytochemical properties and pharmacological effects. This study aimed to explore the phytoconstituents, cytotoxicity, glucose uptake, and antioxidant and antidiabetic potential of an alcoholic extract of <i>A. marmelos</i> leaf. The cytotoxicity of <i>A. marmelos</i> in HepG2 cells was tested in vitro, and the results revealed that it has strong cytocompatibility and cytoprotective properties. The extract's antioxidant activities were investigated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods. Antioxidant potential was shown to be quite impressive. The enzymes α-amylase and α-glycosidase were found to be substantially inhibited by <i>A. marmelos</i>, with IC₅₀ values of 46.21 and 42.07 mg/mL, respectively. In HepG2 cells, <i>A. marmelos</i> significantly reduced ROS levels that were elevated due to high glucose and enhanced glucose consumption (<i>p</i> < 0.05). These activities might be due to the enrichment of bioactive phytoconstituents analyzed chromatographically using GC/MS and HPLC. The findings of this study show that <i>A. marmelos</i> could be an effective restorative therapy for diabetes and related diseases.