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The Ethnopharmacological Effects of Crude Extracts from Smilax balbisiana (Chainy Root) Rhizomes

Davia A. Peddie, Sophia J. Bryan, Camille S. Bowen-Forbes, Ruby L. Alexander-Lindo*

In the present study, the hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol crude extracts of Smilax balbisiana rhizomes were screened for their hypoglycaemic activity using the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) at 300 mg/kg Body Weight (BW). All three crude extracts showed significant post-prandial hypoglycaemic activity when compared with their respective controls (p≤0.05). However, the hexane extract reduced the blood glucose concentration at the glycaemic peak but not as effective as glibenclamide (positive control). The 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay was used to determine the antioxidant activity where the ethyl acetate (IC₅₀=32.48 μg/mL) and methanol (IC₅₀=58.36 μg/mL) extracts produced moderate inhibition of DPPH radicals when compared with ascorbic acid (IC₅₀=15.88 μg/mL). Several classes of phytochemicals were found within the extracts that may have contributed to the activities observed. This study establishes that the rhizome of Smilax balbisiana contains compounds that contribute to its hypoglycaemic and antioxidant activities and may be beneficial for the management of diabetes.