Inhibitory effects of four antidiabetic medicinal plants on advanced glycation end-products formation: A phytochemical and pharmacological evaluation

Introduction: Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are important players in the development of diabetes complications, making their inhibition a key therapeutic target. This study examined the inhibitory effects of extracts from four antidiabetic medicinal plants, Murraya koenigii (curry leaf), Psidium guajava (guava leaf), Sclerocarya birrea (cider tree stembark), and Cinnamomum cassia (cinnamon stembark), on the formation of AGEs. Plants were chosen for their hypoglycemic attributes. Methods: Extracts were incubated at 37 °C for 20 days using bovine serum albumin (BSA) with fructose/glucose models. The generation of AGEs was evaluated using spectrofluorometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of extracts was also performed. Results: Phytochemical analysis revealed quinones, phenols, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, steroids, coumarins, saponins, terpenoids, and tannins in the extracts. The findings indicated substantial suppression of fluorescence AGEs (FAGEs), total immunogenic AGEs (TIAGEs), and specific AGEs, including Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) and Nε-(carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL), by the plant extracts. The inhibitory effects of the plant extracts exceeded the efficacy of aminoguanidine, a recognized inhibitor of AGEs (P<0.05). Polar extracts demonstrated enhanced inhibitory effects, indicating that phenolic and flavonoid components may be pivotal in anti-glycation. Conclusion: This work emphasizes the prospect of these medicinal herbs as natural sources of AGEs inhibitors, offering therapeutic possibilities for the management and prevention of diabetes problems. Further research is advised to discover, isolate, and describe specific bioactive chemicals responsible for these effects to aid in the development of innovative medicinal treatments.