Anti-diabetic and Antioxidant Activities of a Bornean Ethnomedicinal Plant: In vitro and In silico Investigations of Fibraurea tinctoria Root Fractions
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Fibraurea tinctoria, a native ethnomedicinal plant from Borneo, has been traditionally used to treat diabetes, with preclinical studies suggesting anti-hyperglycemic activity. However, the mechanisms underlying its hypoglycemic effects and active compounds remain unclear. This study aims to evaluate the anti-diabetic potential of F. tinctoria root extract through in vitro α-glucosidase inhibition and antioxidant assays, supported by in silico analysis. The roots were extracted using methanol, followed by fractionation with n-hexane (Fraction C6), ethyl acetate (Fraction EtOAc), n-butanol (Fraction BuOH) and aqueous solvent (Fraction H2O). The α-glucosidase inhibition assay was conducted using p-nitrophenyl-α-D-glucopyranoside (p-NPG), and antioxidant activity was measured using the DPPH method. Data were presented as mean ± SD, with IC50 values calculated by linear regression. Fraction EtOAc exhibited the strongest inhibitory activity against both α-glucosidase (IC50 = 147 ± 3.18 μg/mL) and free radicals (IC50 = 155 ± 2.30 μg/mL) compared with other fractions, though lower than reference standard acarbose and ascorbic acid. Phytochemical analysis using GC-MS identified bioactive compounds, further confirmed by molecular docking. 3-Isoxazolecarboperoxoic acid demonstrated optimal interactions with α-glucosidase (3TOP) and the aldose reductase (1IEI). These findings suggest that F. tinctoria could be a promising source for novel anti-diabetic and antioxidant agents.
Source: Tropical Life Sciences Research
Language: English
Subfield: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7224097473