Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences Journal of Herbmed Pharmacology 2345-5004 10 1 2021 01 01 Investigation of in vitro and in vivo antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of Pinus halepensis extracts 123 131 10.34172/jhp.2021.13 EN Najoua Salhi https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5867-6167 Abdelhakim Bouyahya https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9317-1631 Otman El-Goumari https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5315-6063 Meryem El Jemly https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8365-9457 Ilhame Bourais https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4995-7837 Amina Zellou Yahya Cherrah https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7890-9028 My El Abbes Faouzi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3863-4677 Journal Article 10.34172/jhp.2021.13 2020 04 27 2020 07 02 Introduction: Pinus halepensis is a medicinal plant used in traditional medicine for treatment of various pathologies including diabetes. The objective of this study is to perform a phytochemical study and to evaluate the antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of extracts of the bark of P. halepensis. Methods: Total polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins were determined by the Folin Ciocalteu method, aluminum trichloride reagent (AlCl3) and vanillin assay. Evaluation of the antioxidant activity was carried out using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azinobis- (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and ferric reducing agent (ferric reducing). The antidiabetic activity was first revealed by enzymatic inhibition tests through measuring the residual activities of α-amylase and α-glucosidase, and then, by oral tolerance tests of glucose and starch in male Wistar rats. To verify the safety of plant extracts, acute oral toxicity was determined. Results: The phytochemical analysis showed that the extracts of P. halepensis were rich in phenolic compounds. The anti-oxidation activity tests revealed a significant reducing power towards the radicals tested. In addition, P. halepensis inhibited the enzymes involved in diabetes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) at very low concentrations. These effects were verified in the in vivo approach, in particular by using the starch tolerance test. Conclusion: P. halepensis extracts showed remarkable antioxidant and antidiabetic effects. However, further investigations are necessary to identify the main compounds of P. halepensis and to evaluate their antioxidant and antidiabetic effects.