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Unripe Musa paradisiaca (Linn.) Aqueous Pulp Extract Mitigates Diabetic-like Phenotypes and Oxidative Stress Markers in Drosophila melanogaster
Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Lagos State University, PMB 0001, Ojo, Lagos State, Nigeria
2 Advanced Research Centre, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
10.48309/ijabbr.2026.2072735.1670
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a prevalent metabolic condition affecting millions worldwide. In Southwestern Nigeria, unripe plantain (Musa paradisiaca) is traditionally consumed as a dietary intervention for DM management. The present study evaluates the effect of unripe Musa paradisiaca aqueous pulp extract (UMPAPE) through computational (in silico) and experimental (in vivo) approaches using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism. Flies were divided into five experimental groups (n=50, five replicates) and treated for 14 days: control, high-sucrose diet (HSD)-induced diabetic untreated, diabetic flies treated with UMPAPE (0.2 g/5 g and 0.4 g/5 g diet), and a standard drug group. Biochemical assays, including glucose, lipid profiles, and antioxidant enzyme activities, were conducted using standard kits. PyRx and Biovia Discovery Studio were used for molecular docking to obtain the interactions between the UMPAPE best binding bioactive compounds (retrieved from PubChem) and the selected diabeticrelated protein targets. Aldose reductase (AR) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) retrieved from the RCSB Protein Data Bank. (2S, 2E)-7,11-dimethyl-3-(trifluoromethyl) dodeca-2,6,10-trien-1-ol (-9.1 kcal/ mol) and 2-trifluoromethylbenzoic acid (-7.2 kcal/ mol) showed strong interactions with AR and SDH. Additionally, UMPAPE administration showed no toxicity in the flies at different doses but significantly (p < 0.05) reduced glucose, lipid, and oxidative stress marker levels while enhancing high-density lipoprotein, glutathione, and antioxidant enzyme activities (p < 0.05). In conclusion, these findings validate the traditional use of unripe Musa paradisiaca pulp in diabetes management and highlight its potential for further translational research.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 24 December 2025
- Receive Date 25 September 2025
- Revise Date 30 October 2025
- Accept Date 02 December 2025
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