Hypoglycemic effect on adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) of the 3β-6β-16β-trihydroxylup-20(29)-ene triterpene isolated from Combretum leprosum leaves in vivo and in silico approach

Drugs used to manage type 2 diabetes mellitus cause adverse effects. Therefore, the search for new drugs as an alternative for the treatment of diabetes increases. The effect of triterpene 3β-6β-16β-trihydroxylup-20(29)-ene isolated from the leaves of C. leprosum (CLF-1) on sucrose-induced hyperglycemia in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) was evaluated. Initially, adult zebrafish (n = 6/group) underwent hyperglycemia induction by sucrose at 83.25 mM/L for 7 days by immersion. The hyperglycemic groups were treated with CLF-1 (4, 20, and 40 mg/kg), metformin (200 mg/kg), and acarbose (300 mg/kg) for 4 days. The in silico interaction of CLF-1, metformin, and acarbose with the enzyme maltase-glucoamylase (CtMGAM) was investigated. CLF-1 reduced sucrose-induced hyperglycemia after 4 days of treatment, in addition to having better affinity energy with CtMGAM than metformin and acarbose. Thus, CLF-1 may be a new pharmacological alternative as a hypoglycemic agent for the treatment of diabetes.