A study on in vitro Anti Diabetic activity of betasitosterol and it's active isolation identification and characterization from Mutingia calabura

Abstract

The crude extract of Muntingia calabura (M. calabura) was subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening, revealing the presence of steroids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and carbohydrates, among other compounds. The aqueous extract yielded the highest concentration of these bioactive constituents. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis identified β-sitosterol (46.33%) and stigmasterol (53.67%) as major phytosterols in the extract. The study further investigated the effect of β-sitosterol on GLUT-4 expression and glucose uptake in C2C12 myotube cells. Results demonstrated significant upregulation of GLUT-4, enhancing glucose uptake and suggesting a potential role in glucose homeostasis. Additionally, β-sitosterol also influenced GLUT-6 expression, indicating a non-specific enhancement by the plant-derived compound. These findings suggest that M. calabura possesses anti-diabetic properties through its phytosterols, which stimulate GLUT-4 translocation to the cell membrane and may independently or synergistically enhance its epigenetic expression. The observed effects on GLUT-4 translocation imply the potential of M. calabura in correcting defects in insulin-mediated glucose transport, making it a promising candidate for diabetes therapy. Furthermore, the modulation of GLUT protein expression at the genetic level by β-sitosterol and structurally similar compounds such as stigmasterol suggests a broader regulatory role in glucose metabolism. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of M. calabura in managing both insulin-dependent and insulin-independent diabetes mellitus.