Antidiabetic potential of Bauhinia forficata Link leaves: a non-cytotoxic source of lipase and glycoside hydrolases inhibitors and molecules with antioxidant and antiglycation properties.

Bauhinia forficata Link., a cerrado native plant, is used as a complementary treatment for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Several studies involving this plant have shown that it has prominent potential to combat hyperglycemia and oxidative stress. Our objective was suggest the phytochemical constitution of fractions of ethanol extract of B. forficata leaves using HPLC-ESI-MS/MS, and evaluates their activities in enzymatic assays to evaluate their inhibitory potential against α-amylase, α-glucosidase and lipase, as well as their antioxidant and anti-glycation capacities. In addition, we evaluated the cytotoxic effects of these fractions using rodents macrophages and erythrocytes. The ETOAC e ButOH fractions showed high polyphenols concentrations, having been determined 11 flavonoids, including the kaempferitrin, the phytomarker of B. forficata Link. In addition, all fractions presented higher antioxidant and antiglycation activities and prominent capacities to digestive enzymes inhibition. On the other hand, in the cellular assays, none fractions showed cytotoxic and hemolytic effects, able to combat the ROS production in macrophages. Thus, this study presented new results on the biological activities of this plant, contributing to the understanding of the action and effectiveness of its use in the management of diabetes mellitus and its complications.