ASSESSMENT OF GLUCOSE UPTAKE POTENTIAL OF TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS AND GYMNEMA SYLVESTRE IN YEAST CELL MODEL

Natural plant extracts are extensively investigated for their antihyperglycemic potential. In this study, the glucose-uptake activity of Tribulus terrestris and Gymnema sylvestre extracts was assessed using a yeast cell glucose-uptake model, with metformin serving as the standard. Yeast cells were incubated with sample concentrations of 100, 200, 300, and 400 µg/mL, and absorbance was measured at 540 nm. The percentage of glucose uptake (expressed as the percentage reduction of residual glucose relative to the control) was calculated accordingly. Gymnema sylvestre consistently exhibited higher glucose-uptake activity than Tribulus terrestris and showed a response pattern comparable to metformin. At 400 µg/mL, the percentage uptake values were 80.533% for Gymnema sylvestre, 77.057% for Tribulus terrestris, and 74.855% for metformin, indicating dose-dependent enhancement in both extracts. Overall, both plant extracts demonstrated significant glucose-uptake potential in the yeast model, with Gymnema sylvestre showing the most pronounced activity. Further mechanistic studies and in-vitro evaluation using mammalian cell lines are recommended to validate and extend these findings.