Unlocking the in vitro anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic potential of Polygonum maritimum

Context: Several Polygonum species (Polygonaceae) are used in traditional medicine in Asia, Europe and Africa to treat inflammation and diabetes. Objective: Evaluate the in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic potential of methanol and dichloromethane extracts of leaves and roots of the halophyte Polygonum maritimum L. Material and methods: Antioxidant activity was determined (up to 1 mg/mL) as radical-scavenging activity (RSA) of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), copper (CCA) and iron (ICA) chelating activities and iron reducing power (FRAP). NO production was measured in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages for 24 h at concentrations up to 100 µg/mL and antidiabetic potential was assessed by α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition (up to 10 mg/mL) assays. The phytochemical composition of the extracts was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: The methanol leaf extract had the highest activity against DPPH• (IC₅₀ = 26 µg/mL) and ABTS+• (IC₅₀ = 140 µg/mL), FRAP (IC₅₀ = 48 µg/mL) and CCA (IC₅₀ = 770 µg/mL). Only the dichloromethane leaf extract (LDCM) showed anti-inflammatory activity (IC₅₀ = 48 µg/mL). The methanol root (IC₅₀ = 19 µg/mL) and leaf (IC₅₀ = 29 µg/mL) extracts strongly inhibited baker’s yeast α-glucosidase, but LDCM had higher rat’s α-glucosidase inhibition (IC₅₀ = 2527 µg/mL) than acarbose (IC₅₀ = 4638 µg/mL). GC-MS analysis identified β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, 1-octacosanol and linolenic acid as possible molecules responsible for the observed bioactivities. Conclusions: Our findings suggest P. maritimum as a source of high-value health promoting commodities for alleviating symptoms associated with oxidative and inflammatory diseases, including diabetes.