Asian Journal of Current Research

Terminalia arjuna, a traditional medicinal plant used for metabolic and cardiovascular disorders, was investigated to validate its potential as a natural antidiabetic agent. The study aimed to generate the phytochemical profiling using Gas chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and assess its antioxidant and antidiabetic property. The results showed that Terminalia arjuna ethanolic and acetone extracts (TAE and TAA) contained phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, and saponins in preliminary phytochemical screening while GC–MS identified fatty acids, terpenoids, phytol derivatives, and phenolic esters found to be linked to antioxidant and antidiabetic effects. Dose dependent radical scavenging activities using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-Azino-bis-(3-ethyl benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assays and α-amylase inhibition were investigated with both extracts showing moderate activity. α-amylase inhibition was found to be greater in TAE (IC₅₀ = 79.85 µg/mL) than TAA (IC₅₀ = 82.44 µg/mL), though less effective than Acarbose (standard for antidiabetic assay). Overall, the dual antioxidant and α-amylase inhibitory activities validate the traditional use of T. arjuna leaves and highlight their potential as natural antidiabetic agents.