Aqueous extract of Alstonia boonei de Wild. (Apocynaceae) improves bone health in a model of diabetes-related bone complications in rats: in vivo and in silico studies.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Despite the plethora of conventional medical treatments available, diabetes-associated bone alteration remains a challenge. Alstonia boonei is traditionally used to manage diabetes and fracture healing.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The study aims to evaluate the bone healing properties of Alstonia boonei aqueous leaf extract in type 2 diabetic rats.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The thermo-oxidized palm oil and sucrose/streptozotocin induced-diabetic rats were fractured using an electric drill. Animals received distilled water (10 mL/kg), metformin (200 mg/kg) + vitamin D and calcium or extract (100 or 200 mg/kg) for 14 days. Biochemical parameters and pro-inflammatory markers were evaluated. The radiological and histological analysis of the fractured femurs was performed. The affinity of some identified compounds within the extract (armillarin, epicarin and quercetin) on three target proteins (cathepsin k, RAGE and TNF-α) was performed using molecular docking simulations.

RESULTS

The extract significantly improved glycemia, increased ALP, osteocalcin, TGF-β1 levels, bone antioxidant defenses and reduced inflammation. The plant extract significantly increased femoral density while reducing osteolysis index. Moreover, histological sections showed a compact bone at the fracture site. Molecular docking analysis revealed that armillarin was the best compound to inhibit cathepsin K, RAGE and TNF-α.

CONCLUSION

Alstonia boonei exhibited dual pharmacological effects, as evidenced by its anti-diabetic and osteoinductive properties. This finding provides a scientific rationale for its traditional use in the management of diabetes-related bone fractures.