Hypoglycemic effect on adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) of the 3β‐6β‐16β‐trihydroxylup‐20(29)‐ene triterpene isolated from Combretum leprosum leaves in vivo and in silico approach

Abstract Drugs used to manage type 2 diabetes mellitus cause adverse effects. Therefore, the search for new drugs as an alternative for the treatment of diabetes increases. The effect of triterpene 3β‐6β‐16β‐trihydroxylup‐20(29)‐ene isolated from the leaves of C. leprosum (CLF‐1) on sucrose‐induced hyperglycemia in adult zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) was evaluated. Initially, adult zebrafish ( n = 6/group) underwent hyperglycemia induction by sucrose at 83.25 mM/L for 7 days by immersion. The hyperglycemic groups were treated with CLF‐1 (4, 20, and 40 mg/kg), metformin (200 mg/kg), and acarbose (300 mg/kg) for 4 days. The in silico interaction of CLF‐1, metformin, and acarbose with the enzyme maltase‐glucoamylase (CtMGAM) was investigated. CLF‐1 reduced sucrose‐induced hyperglycemia after 4 days of treatment, in addition to having better affinity energy with CtMGAM than metformin and acarbose. Thus, CLF‐1 may be a new pharmacological alternative as a hypoglycemic agent for the treatment of diabetes.