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Innovative Medicines & Omics Bioactivities of Commelina diffusa

3.4. Hypoglycemic activity profile at therapeutic doses. Comprehensive toxicological

The hypoglycemic efficacy of C. diffusa was assessed by evaluations, including chronic toxicity and genotoxicity
measuring blood glucose levels in treated mice following assessments, are necessary before clinical use. Given its
glucose administration. The results are illustrated in Figure 2. wide geographical distribution, phytochemical richness,
and diverse pharmacological activities, C. diffusa is a
Despite growing interest in natural products for promising candidate for further investigation in natural
managing metabolic disorders, the crude methanol product drug discovery. With systematic scientific
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extract and the various fractions of C. diffusa did not validation, C. diffusa could offer sustainable solutions in
produce a significant reduction in blood glucose levels healthcare and environmental management. 26,35,36
in this study. This contrasts with reports of Commelina
benghalensis extracts showing significant hypoglycemic Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global health
effects in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The discrepancy concern characterized by the ability of microorganisms,
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may be attributed to interspecies variation and differences such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, to resist
in phytochemical composition between species. Moreover, the effects of antimicrobial agents. The World Health
the use of a single dose in non-diabetic (normoglycemic) Organization has declared antimicrobial resistance as
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animals limits the interpretation of hypoglycemic efficacy. one of the top ten global public health threats. The rise
in resistance is driven by a complex interplay of factors,
4. Discussion including the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, poor
Bangladesh is endowed with rich biodiversity, particularly infection control practices, and inadequate surveillance
in medicinal plants that have been used traditionally and regulation. Natural products have historically served
6
for centuries. According to the Bangladesh National as a primary source of antibiotics. Many widely used
Herbarium, over 5,000 plant species exist in the country, of antimicrobials, such as penicillin, streptomycin, and
which around 500 are recognized as medicinal. 33,34 tetracycline, were originally derived from microbial sources.
The structural complexity and evolutionary refinement
C. diffusa, commonly known as climbing dayflower or of these compounds allow them to target bacterial cells
spreading dayflower, is a herbaceous plant belonging to effectively, often through unique mechanisms. For example,
the family Commelinaceae. Morphologically, C. diffusa actinomycetes and Bacillus species produce a wide array
is a prostrate or ascending annual herb characterized of secondary metabolites, including aminoglycosides,
by succulent stems, ovate to lanceolate leaves, and polyketides, and lipopeptides, which exhibit strong
distinctive blue flowers borne in spathes. The plant antimicrobial activity. 38,39 Curcumin, a polyphenol from
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reproduces both sexually (via seeds) and vegetatively Curcuma longa, also exerts antimicrobial effects and has
(through rooting at nodes), contributing to its invasive been shown to disrupt bacterial cell membranes and
potential. C. diffusa has a pantropical distribution and inhibit quorum sensing. Similarly, essential oils (e.g.,
is especially common in Asia (including India, China, thymol, carvacrol, eugenol) exhibit bactericidal properties
Bangladesh, and Southeast Asia), the Caribbean, Africa,
and South America. Traditional medicine and animal through membrane disruption and inhibition of bacterial
40,41
studies suggest that C. diffusa has a relatively low toxicity enzymes. Importantly, many of these compounds
synergize with conventional antibiotics, enhancing their
efficacy and reversing resistance mechanisms.
In the present study, the C. diffusa extracts showed
potent antimicrobial activity, likely due to the presence
of bioactive compounds. These results warrant further
phytochemical investigation, including the isolation
and characterization of the active compounds, for the
development of novel antimicrobial agents. Despite
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encouraging in vitro and in vivo findings, the clinical
development of natural compounds faces several
hurdles. These include poor solubility, low bioavailability,
toxicity, and difficulties in standardization and large-
Figure 2. Plasma glucose level of the mice after administration of scale production. To ensure effective translation, further
Commelina diffusa extracts at different time intervals. Data are shown as research must focus on elucidating mechanisms of action,
mean±SEM (n = 5 per group).
Abbreviations: CF: Chloroform fraction; ME: Methanol extract; optimizing pharmacokinetics, and conducting rigorous
PEF: Petroleum ether fraction; SEM: Standard error of the mean. clinical trials. Interdisciplinary collaborations and

Volume 2 Issue 3 (2025) 87 doi: 10.36922/IMO025270030