Abstract

Plant metabolites are sources of phytochemicals potentially used as therapies in treating inflammatory and metabolic diseases. Eriobotrya japonica Lindl. (loquat), the species that belongs to Rosaceae family is a popular fruit cultivated and used in traditional medicine, whereas the fruit is eaten, seeds are usually discarded even though they also contain a reservoir of bioactive compounds. This current study was principally designed to study the phytochemical composition of E. japonica seed oil  isolated from fruits grown in Pakistan., oil was extracted by n- hexane maceration and studied using GC-MS, revealed 14 main chemicals, mostly made up of derivatives of saturated fatty acids and triglyceride esters. Glycerol tricaprylate (11.97%), lauric acid esters (9.39%), and methyl esters of palmitic and capric acid compounds with known bioactive properties were among the notable components. Albino Wistar rats were used for assessing biological activity. Using the paw edema method, anti-inflammatory activity was assessed, oil at 200 and 400 mg/kg indicated dose-dependent effects that were similar to those of ibuprofen (15 mg/kg). Oil was administered at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, and the anti-diabetic effect was assessed using random blood glucose levels and fasting during a 21-day period. Results demonstrated significant reductions in glucose levels relative to gibenclamide (5 mg/kg). Significant dose- and time-dependent responses were confirmed by statistical analyses employing Tukey HSD and Dunnett's t-test.This work finds that E. japonica seed oil have anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic activity due to the presence of a variety of phytochemicals.

Key words: Eriobotrya japonica Lindl. (loquat), GCMS, anti-diabetic and  anti-inflammatory activity.