Physicochemical analysis of leaves of Eriobotrya japonica and antioxidant and antidiabetic evaluation of its methanolic extract

Background: Eriobotrya japonica is a traditional medicinal plant known as loquat and used in East Asian countries such as Japan, China, Korea, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. However, standards for E. japonica are not published in any of the Indian monographs as the quality of plant-based products may be affected by factors such as location, climate, cultivation, and collection. Objective: The objective of the study is to develop the analytical profile and in vitro evaluation of antioxidant and antidiabetic potential. Materials and Methods: E. japonica was subjected to organoleptic, physicochemical, qualitative, and chromatographic evaluation. Further, antioxidant and antidiabetic activities were also evaluated using 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl and α-amylase inhibition activity, respectively. Results and Discussion: The average results of the loss on drying, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, water-soluble extractive value, and alcohol-soluble extractive values were 7.08 ± 0.58%, 8 ± 0.54%, 1 ± 0.31%, 21.6 ± 1.89%, and 11.06 ± 1.28%, respectively. Only one principle spot (Rf = 0.5) was recorded in the thin layer chromatography of E. japonica. The observed inhibitory concentration 50% (IC50) of the extract was 0.453 mg/mL whereas IC50 of ascorbic acid (standard) was 0.528 mg/mL. For antioxidant activity, a similar trend was observed in the IC50 of extract 0.015 mg/mL to IC50 of acarbose (standard) 0.058 mg/ml for α-amylase inhibition activity. Conclusion: The results suggest that E. japonica can have good potential in the treatment of diabetes.