Assessment of anti-diabetic properties of Ziziphus oenopolia (L.) wild edible fruit extract: In vitro and in silico investigations through molecular docking analysis

Abstract Globally, healthcare is concerned about the rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes. Phytochemicals from medicinal plants have shown great promise in improving human health. The present study aimed to determine the secondary metabolites of Ziziphus oenopolia (L.) fruit extract that contribute to its anti-diabetic activity. The anti-diabetic properties were assessed by in vitro and in silico approaches using α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory assays. Gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy analyses were used to profile Z. oenopolia fruit contents, and a total of four bioactive chemicals and eight phytocompounds were tentatively identified, including flavonoids, terpenoids, phenols, steroids, tannins, and saponins. The Z. oenopolia fruit hydroalcoholic extract inhibits α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 = 328.76 and 337.28 µg/mL, R 2 = 0.979 and 0.981). Additionally, phytochemicals found in Z. oenopolia fruit exhibit the ability to inhibit anti-diabetic targets, specifically α-amylase and α-glucosidase (2QV4 vs 3A4A; correlation coefficient, r = 0.955), as demonstrated by computational analysis. This establishes the fruit as a promising and environmentally friendly option for treating hyperglycemia, highlighting the positive correlation between anti-diabetic objectives.