Efficacy of quercetin-like compounds from the mistletoe plant of Dendrophthoe pentandra L. Miq, as oral random blood sugar lowering treatment in diabetic rats

Abstract

Background: Mistletoe is an herb that grows on duku plants (Lancium demosticum) and is known as benalu duku (BD) in Indonesia. It is predicted to have benefits such as anticancer or antiviral properties, and it is also thought to have anti-diabetic pharmacological activity. Quercetin-like compounds (QLCs) are secondary metabolites with antidiabetic activity that are expected to lower blood sugar levels in animals after oral administration.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the ability of QLCs to reduce random blood sugar levels using experimental animals as clinical models.

Material and methods: The research method used was exploratory, which used a before-after test model, and observations were made on the random blood sugar levels after treatment. Secondary metabolites were extracted from BD leaves, which were then screened. Diabetes was induced in 30 rats (Rattus norvegicus) by the administration of streptozotocin at 0.045 mg/g body weight daily for 2 days. The antidiabetic effects of the secondary metabolite at doses of 0.5 mg/kg body weight (twice a day) when administered orally for up to 5 days were tested in diabetic rats. The random sugar levels (mg/dL) were measured using a One Touch Ultra Plus medical device for observation of randomized blood sugar levels. Results and novelty: The results revealed that the secondary metabolite, as an analyte from the BD leaf extract, can significantly reduce random blood sugar levels.

Conclusion: The secondary metabolite extracted from BD, could be used to treat diabetes in rats.

Keywords: Benalu duku; Genistein; Health-lifestyle; Insulin; Mistletoe; Morin; Quercetagin; Sugar blood.

Figure 1.

Research flowchart for the study, ‘efficacy of quercetin-like compounds from the mistletoe plant of Dendrophthoe pentandra (L). Miq, as oral random blood sugar lowering treatment in diabetic rats’.

Figure 2.

Test images showing the presence of flavonoids and tannins. (A) The presence of flavonoids was determined using the Bate-Smith method, which produced an orange color change. (B) The tannin test was determined using the qualitative method of adding concentrated sulfuric acid, which produced a red-dark color change.

Figure 3.

The elution on thin-layer chromatography was performed in duplicate and observed at 254 nm. Notation a is quercetin, and notation B is quercetin-like compounds in the mobile phase with methanol: water (40:60) at pH 6.97.

Figure 4.

(A) Chromatogram of quercetin at 10 μg/mL in methanol at 250 nm; (B) chromatogram of quercetin-like compounds dissolved in methanol chromatography at 370 nm; and (C) 374.4 nm.

Figure 5.

Fourier-Transform Infrared spectrophotometer wave numbers across a range of 4000 to 400 cm⁻¹ with % transmittance (%T) with (A) quercetin standard; (B) tannin standard; and (C) quercetin-like compounds.

Figure 6.

Thermal gravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry. Melting point of quercetin-like compounds (8.062 mg) (A) and the quercetin standard (5.443 mg) (B).

Figure 7.

Spectrogram of genistein in methanol at 20 ppm at m/z 286.05 (A) and morin in methanol at 20 ppm at m/z 303.05 (B) using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with the UNIFI software program. The column was placed on octadecyl-xylene C₁₈ stainless steel. System analysis used a gradient with a mobile phase of acetonitrile-water containing 0.1% formic acid.