Bioactive Compounds and Antidiabetic Properties of Launaea mucronata Hydroethanolic Extract: Phytochemical and Pharmacological Insights.

Launaea mucronata has been traditionally used in folk medicine worldwide for managing various diseases. This study investigated the phytochemical composition and biological activities of the hydroethanolic extract of L. mucronata aerial parts. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were 63.77 ± 0.21 mg GAE/g and 20.91 ± 1.56 mg QE/g, respectively. Phytochemical investigation yielded lupeol (1) and β-sitosterol (2) from the n-hexane fraction; ethyl caffeate (3) and apigenin (4) from the dichloromethane fraction; apigenin (4), luteolin (5), and apigenin-7-O-glucuronide (6) from the ethyl acetate fraction. Antioxidant capacity, assessed via 2,2‑diphenyl‑1‑picrylhydrazyl (DPPH, 109.30 ± 0.75 mg AAE/g) and phosphomolybdenum (119.18 ± 0.93 mg AAE/g) assays, was notable. The extract also showed significant antidiabetic potential, inhibiting α-glucosidase (IC50 = 0.14 ± 0.005 mg/mL) and α-amylase (IC50 = 0.23 ± 0.007 mg/mL), with activity comparable to acarbose (IC50 = 0.07 ± 0.002 mg/mL and 0.09 ± 0.003 mg/mL, respectively). In vivo, alloxan-induced diabetic rats given oral doses (200 and 400 mg/kg, 21 days) exhibited significant hypoglycemic effects, moderate insulinotropic activity, antioxidant actions, and histological improvements in key metabolic organs. These findings suggest L. mucronata as a promising natural candidate for further development as an adjunct therapy for diabetes mellitus (DM).