LAUSR

Abstract Ipomoea oblongata is a popular plant known for its diverse therapeutic uses in South African folk medicine but currently has limited empirical evidence to support some of these uses. In the current study, we evaluated the in vitro anti-diabetic and cytotoxic effects of the root extracts of Ipomoea oblongata. Methanol and water extracts were tested for anti-diabetic activity using glucose uptake/utilisation response in muscle (C2C12) and Chang liver cell lines. Water extract demonstrated a noteworthy (182%) anti-diabetic activity in muscle cell lines which was similar to the effect exerted by insulin (192%, positive control). No noteworthy glucose uptake/utilisation occurred with the Chang liver cell lines. Generally, Ipomoea oblongata extracts were relatively safe based on the response in the MTT assay against muscle (C2C12) and Chang liver cell lines. The noteworthy in vitro anti-diabetic effect and absence of cytotoxic effect against both cell lines provide preliminary empirical evidence that supports the utilisation of Ipomoea oblongata as a popular herbal medicine in folk medicine.