Highlight: 

• Provide a comprehensive methodology utilizing differential extractions and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify phytochemical compounds in Aquilaria crassna leaf extracts.
• Offering a systematic approach to elucidate its antidiabetic properties.
• Aquilaria crassna leaf extracts have antidiabetic activity, contributing to our understanding of its therapeutic potential for managing diabetes.

Researcher Name: Dr. Netiya Karaket collaborated with Dr. Pinnara Rojvirat and Prof. Sarawut Jutrapakdee

Years of execution: 2016-2017

Funder Name: Plant Genetic Conservation Project Under the Royal Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (RSPG)

Objectives: to characterize the phytochemical composition and their bioactivity against HepG2 Cells of Aquilaria crassna Leaf extracts.

Abstract:

Aquilaria crassna is a herbal plant that has recently been reported to possess several biological activities. A. crassna leaf extracts have been demonstrated to have a glucose-lowering effect in animal models. However, it is unclear what phytochemical compounds mediate this anti-diabetic property. Here, we describe analytical methods for identifying such compounds from dried leaves by differential extractions with ethanol, butanol, ethyl acetate, and water, respectively. The phytochemical compounds in each fraction were further identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The cytotoxicity of these fractions was tested against a HepG2 cell line, while the rate of glucose utilization was determined using glucose oxidase assay. Lastly, the inhibitory effect on suppression of hepatic glucose production in HepG2 cells was determined by quantitative real-time PCR of genes encoding pyruvate carboxylase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, glucose-6-phosphatase, and liver glycogen synthase.

Reference:

Rojvirat, P., Karaket, N., Mongkolsiri, P., Jitrapakdee, S. (2022). Analytical Methods and Bioassays for Cytotoxicity and Antidiabetic Properties of Aquilaria crassna Leaf Extracts in HepG2 Cells. In: Guest, P.C. (eds) Physical Exercise and Natural and Synthetic Products in Health and Disease. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2343. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1558-4_24