Chemical study using FT-IR spectroscopy, antioxidant activity, and quantify phytochemical compounds in aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts of two traditional antidiabetic medicines (FM and PMM) sold in Korhogo

Diabetes is a public health problem in Côte d’Ivoire. This condition can lead to blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, and lower limb amputation. The high cost of treatment in low-income countries, who have limited access to modern medications, contributes to patients turning to traditional remedies. In this context, the WHO recommends intensified research into alternative therapeutic approaches, including those that utilize traditional treatments based on medicinal plants. Several traditional antidiabetic medicines are sold in Korhogo. However, little scientific evidence exists to confirm their chemical composition or efficacy. The present study aims to quantify phytochemical compounds and evaluate the antioxidant activity of the traditional antidiabetic medicines FM and PMM sold in Korhogo. The levels of total polyphenols, total flavonoids, and total tannins were determined. Subsequently, the presence of sterols, tannins, polyphenols, and coumarins in the extracts was confirmed by infrared (FT-IR) absorption bands. Finally, antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH and ABTS methods. The study revealed significant antiradical activity (IC50 = 0.021 mg/mL for PMMm, 0.03 mg/mL for PMMe, 1.57 mg/mL for FMe, and 0.089 mg/mL for FMm) compared to vitamin C (IC50 = 0.04 mg/mL). The traditional medicine FMm inhibited the ABTS cation radical by 46.11% at a concentration of 0.92 µM Trolox, and PMMe inhibited the ABTS cation radical by 36.6% at a concentration of 0.92 µM Trolox. The results of this study may support their use in the city of Korhogo.