Integrated in vitro, in vivo, and in silico evaluation of antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities of Melia azedarach stem bark extract

Peer-reviewed article overview and publication details.

November 14, 2026Adil Sher, Muhammad Shahab, Shahab Ud Din, Irfan Ullah, Ali Shan, Adnan Gul, Bushra Haider, Muhammad Tauqeer, Gauhar RehmanPublishedOriginal research

Abstract

This study investigated the anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic potential of Melia azedarach stem bark extract (MASBE) using integrated in vitro, in vivo, and in silico approaches. Anti-diabetic activity was assessed through yeast glucose uptake, glucose adsorption, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase inhibition assays, followed by evaluation in an alloxan-induced diabetic mouse model. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by human red blood cell (HRBC) membrane stabilization, heat-induced hemolysis, protein denaturation assays, and an in vivo xylene-induced ear edema model in mice. Molecular docking investigated the interactions of major phytoconstituents with inflammatory targets (COX-1, COX-2, and 5-LOX) and the anti-diabetic target AMPK. The extract showed potent anti-diabetic effects, including maximum yeast glucose uptake (78.99%), α-amylase inhibition (76.72%), and α-glucosidase inhibition (74.53%), along with effective glucose adsorption. In diabetic mice, MASBE significantly reduced blood glucose levels and improved body weight and pancreatic and liver histology. MASBE exhibited significant dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity, achieving maximum inhibition of 63.76% in HRBC membrane stabilization, 56.09% in heat-induced hemolysis, and 69.69% in protein denaturation assays, while markedly reducing xylene-induced ear edema in mice. Molecular docking revealed favorable binding affinities of α-linolenic acid, protocatechuic acid, and cyanidin-3-O-β-D-glucoside toward inflammatory and diabetic targets, with docking scores ranging from −3.72 to −6.85 kcal/mol, supported by key hydrogen-bond interactions. The combined experimental and computational findings demonstrate that MASBE possesses potent anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic activities. These effects are likely mediated through multiple mechanisms involving inhibition of inflammatory mediators and modulation of glucose metabolism, highlighting M. azedarach stem bark as a promising natural source for the development of multifunctional therapeutic agents.

Keywords

Diabetes mellitusα-glucosidase,α-amylase,anti-inflammatoryanti-diabeticin silico

Last Updated

November 14, 2026

Copyright

Atlantic Journal of Life Sciences (2026)

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Citation

American Psychological Association

Sher, A., Shahab, M. S., Din, S. U., Ullah, I., Shan, A., Gul, A., Haider, B., Tauqeer, M., and Rehman, G. (2026). Integrated <i>in vitro</i>, <i>in vivo</i>, and <i>in silico</i> evaluation of antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities of <i>Melia azedarach</i> stem bark extract. Atlantic Journal of Life Sciences. https://doi.org/10.71005/e1prqf61