Comparison of the antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of aqueous and methanolic extracts of the plant Opopanax hispidus

Oxidative stress and diabetes have become major health problems due to their increasing prevalence and significant impact on public health. In this thesis study, the phenolic compound contents of aqueous and methanolic extracts of Opopanax hispidus were examined, and their antioxidant activities and antidiabetic potentials were investigated through a comparative analysis between the two extracts. The extracts obtained from the plant were first analyzed for their phenolic profiles using HPLC, and it was determined that compounds such as rutin, luteolin, and kaempferol were present in high amounts. To determine antioxidant activity, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays were applied; in addition, the potential of the extracts to inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes was examined to evaluate their antidiabetic activity. According to the findings, the methanolic extract showed a more pronounced radical scavenging effect in the DPPH assay, while the aqueous extract exhibited a more balanced and stable activity in the ABTS assay. Enzyme inhibition results revealed that the aqueous extract showed a higher level of inhibition against α-glucosidase, whereas α-amylase inhibition was more limited in the methanolic extract but still measurable. These results suggest that Opopanax hispidus may be considered a potential natural supportive agent in the management of oxidative stress-related diseases and type 2 diabetes; however, further in vivo and clinical studies are needed to confirm this potential.