Uplc/ms based phytochemical screening and antidiabetic properties of picrorhiza kurroa in mitigating glucose-induced metabolic dysregulation and oxidative stress

Abstract

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder increasing at an alarming rate in the current era. Medicinal plants and their supplements have shown protective effects against metabolic dysregulation and oxidative damage. The present study is aimed to explore the antidiabetic potential of hydroalcoholic extract of Picrorhiza kurroa (HAE-PK). The UPLC/MS analysis revealed 23 most abundant bioactive substances. HAE-PK exhibited significant α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities with an IC50 value of 124.7 ± 0.59 and 135.03 ± 1.28, respectively, and paralleled with standard acarbose. It also contained a very high amount of phenols and flavonoids and exhibited potent free radical scavenging activity using the DPPH test. Further, HAE-PK reinstated the glucose-induced increase in hepatocytic enzymes, aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and hexokinase. Further, HAE-PK significantly improved the glucose-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells. Thus, we conclude that HAE-PK can be a considerable prospect in the management of hyperglycaemia, diabetes and related oxidative stress.