DOI: 10.1177/1934578x261504948 ISSN: 1934-578X
GC-MS Profiling,
in Vivo
Evaluation of Hypoglycemic, Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Activities and
in Silico
Pharmacological Investigation of
Md. Tariqul Islam, Md. Riyad Hossain, A.B.M. Ashraful, Md. Shafiqul Islam, Nusrat Jahan Tohfa, Md. Al Mamun, Rubaia Easmin, Joy Sarker
Objective
Artocarpus lacucha
Roxb. (Moraceae), locally known as Monkey jack (Dewa), is traditionally used in Bangladesh to treat diarrhea, inflammation and metabolic disorders. However, scientific validation of its pharmacological potential remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the hypoglycemic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the ethanolic extract of
A. lacucha
leaves (EAL) in a mouse model, identify its bioactive compounds using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and evaluate molecular interactions through
in silico
studies.
Methods
Leaves were extracted using cold maceration with 95% ethanol. Hypoglycemic activity was assessed using an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in Swiss albino mice at doses of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg body weight (BW). Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities were evaluated using formalin-induced paw edema and biphasic paw-licking models. GC–MS analysis was performed to identify phytoconstituents. Molecular docking against selected antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory targets (5YW7, 3BAJ and 5KIR) and a complementary protein-binding and transport target (7JWN) and ADMET properties were predicted using pkCSM.
Results
EAL significantly reduced blood glucose levels (
p<0.05
) in OGTT compared to control. In the paw edema model, EAL significantly inhibited formalin-induced inflammation in a time and dose-dependent manner (
p<0.001
), with the 500 mg/kg BW dose showing pronounced edema reduction comparable to standard drugs. In the licking test, EAL significantly reduced nociceptive responses in both early (neurogenic) and late (inflammatory) phases (
p<0.001
). GC-MS analysis revealed multiple bioactive compounds, including phenolics and terpenoids. Docking analysis demonstrated favorable binding affinities with target proteins, supporting potential antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, while interactions with HSA provided complementary information regarding potential protein-binding behavior.
Conclusion
The findings indicate that the ethanolic leaf extract of
A. lacucha
exhibits preliminary glucose-lowering, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities. GC–MS, molecular docking, ADMET analyses provide tentative phytochemical and computational support. Further bioactivity-guided isolation, mechanistic, pharmacokinetic and toxicological studies are needed to confirm its therapeutic potential.