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. 2025 Dec;11(1):2468128.
doi: 10.1080/20565623.2025.2468128. Epub 2025 Feb 21.

Evaluation of polyherbal synergy against diabetes: in-vitro analysis

Sridevi N  1 , Thirumal M  1
Affiliations

Evaluation of polyherbal synergy against diabetes: in-vitro analysis

Sridevi N et al. Future Sci OA. 2025 Dec.

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the anti-diabetic properties of a polyherbal formulation consisting of Curcuma longa, Emblica officinalis, and Trigonella foenum-graecum through in-vitro assays, and investigate its synergistic effects on glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and insulin function.

Materials and methods: The polyherbal extract was prepared using methanol, water, and methanol-water as solvents. In-vitro antioxidant (DPPH, Phosphomolybdenum) and anti-diabetic (α-amylase, α-glucosidase inhibition, yeast glucose uptake, and inhibitory glucose diffusion) assays were conducted. L6 rat skeletal muscle cells were used for MTT assay and glucose uptake.

Results: The methanol extract showed the highest antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities compared to aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts. The IC50 values in DPPH and α-amylase inhibition assays were close to standard drugs, while the MTT assay demonstrated moderate cytotoxicity, confirming the extract's safety. Glucose uptake increased significantly, particularly in L6 cells treated with the methanolic extract.

Conclusion: The polyherbal formulation exhibited potent anti-diabetic properties, particularly the methanolic extract, showing significant glucose regulation and insulin function improvement. This formulation holds promise as a natural treatment for diabetes.

Keywords: Curcuma longa; Emblica officinalis; Polyherbal formulation; Trigonella foenum-graecum; anti-diabetic; glucose uptake.

Plain language summary

This study talks about using natural plants to help with diabetes: An illness where you have too much sugar (or blood sugar) in your blood. Blood: a fluid in your body that carries things that are needed for your body to work well, such as vitamins, minerals, and oxygen to cells. It also takes waste products away. Also called diabetes mellitus. Type 1 diabetes happens most often in kids or young adults. Type 2 usually occurs when you are older. Type 1 diabetes is also called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. Insulin is something made by a gland that helps with digestion (your pancreas) and helps blood sugar (glucose) get into your body’s cells. The scientists mixed three plants: turmeric, amla (a fruit), and fenugreek (a seed used in cooking). They made a special plant extract using methanol, which worked better than water. They tested this mix in the lab to see if it could help the body use sugar better and stop certain enzymes that make sugar levels rise too quickly. The results were good! The mix had strong powers to fight harmful molecules (antioxidants) and helped manage sugar. Even though this is exciting, more tests on animals and people are needed to be sure it works safely.

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Conflict of interest statement

Financial disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants, or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Writing disclosure

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Graphical representation of DPPH assay and Phosphomolybdenum assay. This figure shows the graphical representation of the free radical scavenging activity of the polyherbal extracts (methanol, water, and methanol-water) measured using the DPPH assay. The IC50 values of the extracts are compared to the standard Ascorbic acid, highlighting that the methanol-water extract had the strongest antioxidant activity. This figure also displays the total antioxidant capacity of polyherbal extracts as determined by the Phosphomolybdenum assay. The methanol extract showed the highest activity, followed by methanol-water and water extracts. The results are compared to the Ascorbic acid standard.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Graphical representation of α -amylase inhibition assay and α -glucosidase inhibition assay. This figure presents the inhibition of alpha-amylase enzyme activity by the polyherbal extracts. The methanol extract showed significant inhibition compared to water and methanol-water extracts. Acarbose was used as the standard. This figure shows the inhibition of alpha-glucosidase activity by the methanol extract in comparison to the standard Voglibose. The methanol extract exhibited significant inhibitory activity.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Graphical representation of Glucose uptake inhibition by yeast and Glucose diffusion assay. This figure depicts the ability of polyherbal extracts to inhibit glucose uptake in yeast cells. The methanol extract exhibited the highest inhibition, followed by methanol-water and water extracts. Metformin was used as the control. This figure illustrates the effect of polyherbal extracts on glucose diffusion through a dialysis membrane. The methanol extract did not significantly inhibit glucose diffusion, showing minimal effect compared to the control.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Graphical representation of MTT assay and MTT – Cell cytotoxicity study (a) control (b) 25 µg (c) 50 µg (d) 100 µg. This figure represents the cell cytotoxicity results from the MTT assay, which measured the viability of L6 rat skeletal muscle cells treated with methanolic polyherbal extract and the standard drug. Cell viability decreased with increasing concentrations of the extract, indicating dose-dependent cytotoxicity.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Graphical representation of Glucose uptake assay. This figure demonstrates the glucose uptake by L6 cells treated with various concentrations of polyherbal extracts. The methanol extract showed increased glucose uptake, with metformin used as the standard reference.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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Annotated reference

    1. Butalia S, et al. ; 2016. * – "Environmental risk factors and type 1 diabetes: past, present and future." - Considerable Interest: This reference explores the environmental factors contributing to diabetes, critical for understanding the disease’s onset and aiding in prevention strategies.
    1. Tilburt JC, Kaptchuk TJ.; 2008. ** – "Herbal medicine research and global health: an ethical analysis." - Of Interest: This study provides ethical insights into herbal medicine research, underscoring the importance of global health perspectives in the development of polyherbal treatments. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Gauttam VK, Kalia AN.; 2013. – "Development of polyherbal antidiabetic formulation encapsulated in the phospholipids vesicle system." - Considerable Interest: It highlights the advancements in polyherbal formulations, essential to the context of the current report’s focus on innovative herbal combinations. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Mehta S, et al. ; 2009. * – "Anti-diabetic activity of Emblica officinalis in animal models." - Of Interest: This is significant as it directly supports the therapeutic potential of Emblica officinalis, a key component of the polyherbal extract investigated.
    1. Chavda BP, Sharma A.; 2017. ** – "Efficacy of combination of Fenugreek, Amla, and Turmeric powder to reduce blood glucose level among diabetics." - Of Interest: This reference is vital for supporting the synergistic effects of the herbs studied in the polyherbal extract.

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