Exploring antihyperglycemic and histopathological analysis of Oxalis corniculata L. hydroethanolic extract in STZ induced diabetic rats with in silico α-amylase inhibitor assessment

Diabetes mellitus is an epidemic and multifaceted metabolic disorder defined by hyperglycemia, that reduces insulin secretion sensitivity, leading to damage to vital organs. This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and antidiabetic effects of the hydroethanolic extract of Oxalis corniculata L. (OCHEx) in addition to the hypoglycemic effect of bioactive compounds identified from GC-MS profiling using molecular docking studies to explore possible a-amylase inhibitors. The antioxidant capacity of the OCHEx were determined using in vitro DPPH, ABTS , and total antioxidant assays. Antidiabetic, biochemical, and histopathological studies were performed in an in vivo STZ induced rat model. The OCHEx showed antioxidant activity against DPPH, ABTS, and total antioxidant expressed in IC50 value with 124.56 +/- 2.40 mu g/ml, 159.17 +/- 2.98 mu g/ml and 147.83 +/- 1.91 mu g/ml, respectively. Furthermore, the highest inhibition percentages of alpha-amylase (71.0 +/- 2.8), alpha-glucosidase (74.6 +/- 4.2), and acarbose (92.1 +/- 3.7) were obtained at 200 mu g/ml. OCHEx treatment significantly reduced blood glucose levels and concurrently improved blood insulin levels, lipid profiles, and liver marker enzymes significantly ( p <0.05), with improvement in the pancreas and liver revealed through histopathological studies, indicating favour able effects in mitigating diabetic complications. Furthermore, GC-MS screening identified nine compounds, four of which showed potential as a-amylase inhibitors, as investigated through in silico and ADME studies. Our study concludes that OCHEx is a valuable source of antioxidants and ameliorates the risk of diabetes owing to the presence of potential bioactive compounds.