Exploration of the Phytochemical and Antidiabetic Properties of <i>Teucrium polium</i> : A Natural Asset for Type 2 Diabetes Management

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is characterized by hyperglycemia due to impaired insulin utilization, and current therapies face notable limitations. This study investigated the chemical composition and biological activities of Teucrium polium essential oils and extracts, with a focus on their antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. Essential oil from aerial parts (yield 1.65%) was obtained by hydrodistillation; extracts were prepared by aqueous decoction (E0) and Soxhlet (aqueous, E1; hydroethanolic, E2). HPLC‐UV‐Vis‐ESI‐MS and GC–MS identified bioactives. The oil was dominated by carvacrol (28.10%), thymol (26.28%), γ ‐terpinene (12.11%), and o‐cymene (15.59%). E0 was rich in poliumoside (36.45%); E1 contained verbascoside (9.42%) and isorhamnetin‐3‐O‐rutinoside (9.68%); E2 was dominated by apigenin‐7‐rutinoside (21.18%). Antioxidant assays showed 85% DPPH inhibition at 100 µgmL – 1 , FRAP EC 50 of 25.4 µgmL –1 , and 75% TAC inhibition at 100 µg mL –1 . Antimicrobial activity yielded MICs of 0.5 mg mL –1 for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and 0.3 mg mL –1 for Candida albicans . Antidiabetic assays demonstrated 65% inhibition of α ‐amylase and 72% inhibition of α ‐glucosidase at 100 g mL –1 . In vivo, glucose tolerance testing showed a 30% reduction in postprandial glycemia at 70 mg kg –1 and near‐normal glycemia after 7 days. These findings support T. polium 's traditional use for T2D and warrant further toxicological and clinical evaluation.