RESUMEN
Objective To provide in vitro evidence for antidiabetic activity through potential inhibition of α-glucosidase enzyme, glucose diffusion and enhancement in the wound healing using methanolic extract and fractions from Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn. fruit. Methods The inhibitory action of methanolic extract and fractions of such fruit on α-glucosidase enzyme and glucose movement through in vitro assay assessment was reported. Their activities on wound healing were tested using the scratch assay. Results Ethyl acetate fraction at 50 mg/mL concentration exhibited significant α-glucosidase inhibition (95.79 mg/mL) with P < 0.05. At the same concentration, the methanolic extract as well as other fractions revealed lower α-glucosidase inhibition and higher glucose diffusion retardation across the dialysis tube than the control. Ethyl acetate and butanol fractions displayed notably higher glucose diffusion inhibitory activity of 5.21 mmol/L and 5.2 mmol/L, respectively as compared to methanolic extract and n-hexane fraction of 6.58 mmol/L and 6.49 mmol/L, respectively. Conversely, compared to other fractions the methanolic extract and ethyl acetate fraction manifested proliferative effect at the incubation time of 6 h during the wound healing study. Conclusions It is established that methanolic extract and fractions from H. sabdariffa Linn. fruit can inhibit the α-glucosidase enzyme and glucose movement as well as influence the wound healing activity positively.