A novel insight into the anti-diabetic and diuretic potentials of the Colocasia esculenta L. (Taro) vegetable flower extract accentuating its ethnobotanical importance

Abstract

Colocasia esculenta L. (Family: Araceae), also known as taro, is a tropical plant indigenous to Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands with diversified ethnobotanical importance. This plant has long been utilized for its medicinal value in managing diabetes and hypertension. This study aims to explore the anti-diabetic and diuretic potentials of methanolic extracts of Colocasia esculenta flowers (CEF-ME). The anti-diabetic activity was evaluated by using in-vitro alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzyme inhibition assays while the diuretic effect of CEF-ME were employing Wistar rats model by measuring urine volume and electrolyte excretion level (Na⁺, K⁺, Cl⁻), with furosemide acting as the reference drug. The acute oral toxicity also carried on to shed light on the safety profile. Compounds identified in this plant were further subjected to molecular docking and ADME/T studies to validate the wet lab findings and to establish its drug-likeness profile. In hypoglycemic assays, CEF-ME exhibited a strong inhibition of alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase, with IC₅₀ values of 466.92 μg/mL (R² = 0.9899) and 653.53 (R² = 0.9878) μg/mL, respectively comparable to standard acarbose. At a 750 mg/kg dose, CEF-ME showed a 95 % increase in urine excretion, comparable to furosemide, and promoted electrolyte balance with increased Na⁺ excretion. Molecular docking studies revealed Cyclohexane-12-diol as a potent bioactive compound in CEF-ME, exhibiting strong binding affinities with responsible targets. These findings propose that CEF-ME could be a potential natural therapeutic agent for dealing with diabetes and hypertension, offering a dual action of glycemic control and fluid-electrolyte regulation.