Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Potential of Palmyra Treacle: In Vitro and In Silico Approaches

Borassus flabellifer treacle (palmyra treacle) is a traditional natural sweetener widely consumed in Sri Lanka, yet its pharmacological properties remain underexplored. This study evaluated the antioxidant and antidiabetic potential of aqueous (AE) and methanolic extracts (ME) of palmyra treacle using in vitro assays. In-silico molecular docking was additionally performed to predict the antioxidant and antidiabetic potential of well-known bioactive compounds found in palmyra treacle. Antioxidant activity was assessed by hydrogen peroxide scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays, while antidiabetic effects were investigated through glucose uptake by yeast cells and glucose adsorption capacity tests. Molecular docking examined the binding affinities and interactions of treacle-derived bioactive vitamins with key antioxidant and antidiabetic enzymes, NAD(P)H oxidase and human α-glucosidase, respectively. Both extracts exhibited notable antioxidant activity, with reducing power comparable to that of ascorbic acid. The methanolic extract showed stronger glucose uptake activity, while both extracts effectively adsorbed glucose in a dose-dependent manner. Docking results revealed thiamine as the most promising compound, demonstrating stronger binding affinities to antioxidant and antidiabetic enzyme targets than reference inhibitors. These findings highlight palmyra treacle as a natural sweetener with significant antioxidants and glucose-regulatory properties, supporting its potential for future nutraceutical and therapeutic applications.