Phytochemical and Pharmacological Evaluation of Wodyetia Bifurcata Leaf Extracts in High-Fat-Diet-Induced Hypercholesterolemia-Associated Diabetes in Albino Rats

ABSTRACT Background: Hypercholesterolemia and diabetes are interrelated metabolic disorders in which disturbed lipid metabolism, oxidative stress and impaired glucose homeostasis may coexist. This study investigated the phytochemical composition and pharmacological potential of Wodyetia bifurcata leaf extracts in a high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced diabetic rat model, with emphasis on antihyperglycaemic, antihypercholesterolemic, antioxidant and tissue-protective effect. Methods: Fresh W. bifurcata leaves collected from Namkum, Ranchi, Jharkhand, were authenticated by the Botanical Survey of India. Ethanolic and hydroethanolic extracts were prepared and subjected to qualitative and quantitative phytochemical evaluation. Antioxidant activity was assessed by the DPPH radical-scavenging assay. Male Wistar albino rats were used for in vivo evaluation. Hypercholesterolemia-associated diabetes was produced using an HFD, and fasting blood glucose, serum lipid profile, urine glucose, body weight and histopathology of liver and pancreas were evaluated. Extract treatments were administered orally for 28 days. Results: Extraction yields were 12.5% for the ethanolic extract and 15.2% for the hydroethanolic extract. Phytochemical screening demonstrated several bioactive classes, including alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, tannins and terpenoids. The ethanolic extract at 120 µg/mL showed total phenolic and flavonoid contents of 14.71 ± 0.03 mg GAE/g and 13.67 ± 0.57 mg RE/g, respectively. The hydroethanolic extract contained 21.83 ± 0.02 mg GAE/g phenolics and 28.76 ± 0.66 mg RE/g flavonoids. The DPPH IC50 of the W. bifurcata extract was 31.32 ± 0.046 µg/mL compared with 10.35 ± 0.026 µg/mL for ascorbic acid. Ethanolic extract at 120 mg/kg improved serum lipid parameters. Hydroethanolic extract at 120 mg/kg reduced fasting blood glucose from 310.75 ± 4.91 mg/dL at baseline to 129.25 ± 7.35 mg/dL on day 28, corresponding to the reported 52.8% decrease. Histopathological examination showed improvement in hepatic and pancreatic architecture. Conclusion: W. bifurcata leaf extracts demonstrated promising antihyperglycaemic, antihypercholesterolemic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective and pancreatic protective effects in the experimental model. Further mechanistic, toxicological, pharmacokinetic and translational studies are warranted.