Nauclea latifolia Stem Bark Extracts: Potentially Effective Source of Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Antidiabetic and Anti-Inflammatory Compounds

Abstract

The stem bark of African peach (Nauclea latifolia) plant is used as traditional remedy for diabetes and inflammatory diseases, however, authenticated information on this use is scare. Therefore, the objective of this paper was to investigate the traditional folklore of the trado-medical remedy of the stem bark of African peach (Nauclea latifolia) plant for diabetes and inflammatory diseases using appropriate standard methods. Qualitative phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of saponins, alkaloids alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, coumarin, steroids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, glycosides, quinones, anthocyanin, anthraquinone, and phenol in the extracts. The ethanol extract exhibited the highest quantities of phenolics (19.69±0.12 mgGAE/g), flavonoids (46.84±0.12 mgQE/g), alkaloids (8.76±0.10 mg/g), tannins (7.25±0.10 mgTAE/g), and saponins (4.53±0.13 mg/g). Both ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts showed potent antibacterial and significant antifungal potential against the chosen pathogenic species. The ethyl acetate extract showed superior antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities compared to the ethanol extract. However, the ethanol extract outperformed in terms of anti-inflammatory efficacy, although still below standard Ibuprofen. This study propounds that N. latifolia stem bark is an attainable diabetic medication due to its interactions with enzymes, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory capabilities and its potential for isolating medicinal compounds.