Analysis of Chemical Composition by GC-MS and in-vitro Antidiabetic Activity of Azadirachta indica Leaves Collected from Erbil, Iraq

Background: Azadirachta indica(Neem) is an important medicinal plant that is traditionally known for its insecticidal, and antimicrobial properties. Objective: The objective of present study was to evaluate the in-vitro antidiabetic activity and characterize the chemical constituents of Neem extract. Materials and Methods: The chemical constituents in ethyl acetate extract of the Neem leaves were determined by GC-MS and the in-vitro antidiabetic activity of Neem extract was evaluated via the inhibition of alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes. Results: The ethyl acetate extract of Neem yielded 49 chemical compounds and these constituents amounting to 97.07% of total Neem leaf extract composition. The major chemical components of the Neem were octadecanoic acid (7.17%), propyl tetracosyl ether (5.35%), 1-decanol, 2-octyl (5.01%), hexadecane (4.70%), tricosane (4.73%), octadecane, 1-chloro (4.65%), and linolenic acid (4.35%). The Neem extract produces dose dependent-inhibition of alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes ranging from 21.67 +/- 2.81 to 75.82 +/- 3.44% and 17.04 +/- 4.43 to 58.44 +/- 1.21% for concentration 31.25 to 1000 mu g/mL, respectively. The IC50 values for Neem extract and acarbose were 165.53 +/- 2.75 and 91.04 +/- 2.16 mu g/mL, respectively against the alpha-amylase enzyme. The IC50 values for Neem extract and acarbose were 210.08 +/- 2.16 and 120.05 +/- 2.16 mu g/mL, respectively against the alpha-glucosidase enzyme. Conclusion: The study findings suggested that Neem may be used as drug candidate in the management of post prandial hyperglycemia.