Optimization of Hyperglycemic Induction in Zebrafish and Evaluation of Its Blood Glucose Level and Metabolite Fingerprint Treated with <i>Psychotria malayana</i> Jack Leaf Extract

• Main Authors: Khaled Benchoula, Alfi Khatib, Fairuz M. C. Quzwain, Che Anuar Che Mohamad, Wan Mohd Azizi Wan Sulaiman, Ridhwan Abdul Wahab, Qamar Uddin Ahmed, Majid Abdul Ghaffar, Mohd Zuwairi Saiman, Mohamed F. Alajmi, Hesham El-Seedi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-04-01
• Series: Molecules
• Subjects: Type 1 diabetes; zebrafish; <i>Psychotria malayana</i>; alloxan; insulin; streptozotocin
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/24/8/1506

A standard protocol to develop type 1 diabetes in zebrafish is still uncertain due to unpredictable factors. In this study, an optimized protocol was developed and used to evaluate the anti-diabetic activity of <i>Psychotria malayana</i> leaf. The aims of this study were to develop a type 1 diabetic adult zebrafish model and to evaluate the anti-diabetic activity of the plant extract on the developed model. The ability of streptozotocin and alloxan at a different dose to elevate the blood glucose levels in zebrafish was evaluated. While the anti-diabetic activity of <i>P. malayana</i> aqueous extract was evaluated through analysis of blood glucose and LC-MS analysis fingerprinting. The results indicated that a single intraperitoneal injection of 300 mg/kg alloxan was the optimal dose to elevate the fasting blood glucose in zebrafish. Furthermore, the plant extract at 1, 2, and 3 g/kg significantly reduced blood glucose levels in the diabetic zebrafish. In addition, LC-MS-based fingerprinting indicated that 3 g/kg plant extract more effective than other doses. Phytosterols, sugar alcohols, sugar acid, free fatty acids, cyclitols, phenolics, and alkaloid were detected in the extract using GC-MS. In conclusion, <i>P. malayana</i> leaf aqueous extract showed anti-diabetic activity on the developed type 1 diabetic zebrafish model.