Anti-hyperglycaemic effect of aqueous extract from Brosimum alicastrum: in vivo evaluation and quantification of its components by HPLC-DAD

Brosimum alicastrum bark is used in Mexican traditional medicine to treat chronic illnesses, including diabetes. For this reason, the purpose of this work was to evaluate the anti-hyperglycaemic effect of the aqueous extract from B. alicastrum bark. Therefore, the aqueous extract at 40 mg/kg, administered orally and chronically, exhibited an anti-hyperglycaemic effect in a streptozotocin/nicotinamide model in Wistar rats. Because of our chemical study of this species demonstrated the presence of the coumarins xanthyletin (1), luvangetin (2), 8-hydroxyxanthyletin (3), and methoxyrutaretin (4), we also determined the presence of this bioactive compounds in the aqueous infusion and their quantification therein by developing a new, simple, fast, selective, sensitive, and precise HPLC-DAD method according to ICH validation guideline. Finally, the presence of coumarins can be associated with the anti-hyperglycaemic effect shown by the extract.