Black Oat (Avena strigosa) Seeds: A Valuable Source of Micro-nutrients with In-vitro Antioxidant, In-vitro Enzyme Inhibition, and In-vivo Antidiabetic Potentials in Animals.

INTRODUCTION

Avena strigosa offers exceptional nutritional value and digestibility for cattle feed, and its seeds have cosmetic and food industry applications. This research aims to explore the phytochemicals and pharmacological potential of its seeds against diabetes.

METHODS

The phytoconstituents of Avena strigosa (AS) seeds were evaluated through different analytical techniques. Methanolic extract and its fractions were tested for antioxidant and antidiabetic activities.

RESULTS

The qualitative analyses validated the existence of terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolics, tannins, reducing sugars, and cardiac glycosides. Proximate composition revealed components in g/100g, i.e., moisture, ash, crude fiber, crude fat, crude protein, and nitrogen-free extract, while elemental study detected K+, Zn+2, Ca+2, Pb+4, Mn+2, Fe+2, Cd+2, Mg+2, Cu+3, and Cr+3 in mg/L. GC-MS identified the presence of nine compounds with antioxidant and/or antidiabetic activities. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were calculated as 137.19 ± 2.26 mg GAE/g and 253.52 ± 0.74 mg QE/g. A prominent DPPH inhibitory action was shown by the chloroform fraction (IC50 43.5 ± 0.81 μg/ml) in comparison with ascorbic acid (p> 0.05). The chloroform fraction also displayed optimum in-vitro enzyme inhibitory activities (IC50 51.42 ± 0.91 and 68.5 ± 1.02 μg/ml) compared with the control acarbose (p> 0.05), and exhibited better in-vivo antidiabetic activity at doses of 75, 150, and 300 mg/kg per day.

DISCUSSION: AS seeds exhibit antioxidant effects through their phenolic and flavonoid content, while also inhibiting α-amylase and α-glucosidase, thereby controlling hyperglycemia effectively.

CONCLUSION

AS seeds are nutrient-rich and contain bioactive compounds that can promote health and combat diseases, such as oxidative stress and diabetes.