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99 http://journals.cihanuniversity.edu.iq/index.php/cuesj CUESJ 2022, 6 (2): 99-102

ReseaRch aRticle

A Comparison of Chemical Compounds between Anti-Diabetic 
Drug and Some Medicinal Plants
Ali J. Muhialdin1, Zhala B. Taha2, Rahman K. Faraj3, Ali M. Hussein4, Rayan S. Salahalddin4, 
Hawri A. Majeed4

1Department of Animal Production, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Garmian, Kalar, Kurdistan 
Region, Iraq, 2Department of Forestry, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, Salahaddin University, Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq, 
3Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Garmian, Kalar, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, 4Department of Biomedical 
Sciences, Cihan University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

ABSTRACT

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a kind of diabetes marked by high blood sugar, insulin, and insulin insufficiency. Adult-onset diabetes is another 
name for it. Increased thirst, frequent urination, and unexplained weight loss are common indications and symptoms. Metformin side 
effects include metallic taste, weakness, diarrhea, stomach upset, lactic acidosis, and vomiting. Two other side effects are asthenia and 
a Vitamin B12 deficiency. Many recent studies and most health experts recommend basil seed as a better Metformin substitute. The 
research investigates why patients who consume basil seeds have a similar response to those who take Metformin. The methodology of 
the study consisted of two main steps, first step is to analyze basil and use HPLC to determine its chemical components. The second step is 
to compare the broken-down components to Metformin-composed materials, which is done by diluting with methanol/water (50:50 v/v) 
and removing the fat layer using 20 mL hexane. The findings showed that basil seed and Metformin had the most similar component 
structure, thus the foundlings concluded that patients had the same responses without the Metformin side effects, implying that basil 
seed stabilizes blood sugar levels.

Keywords: Ocimum basilicum, Trigonella foenum-graecum, metformin, chemical composition, type 2 diabetes

INTRODUCTION

One of the most common metabolic disorders is diabetes mellitus. It is characterized by hyperglycemia caused by absolute or relative insulin deficiency, and it is related 
to long-period issues with the heart, nerves, kidneys, and 
eyes.[1] Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM, Type 1) 
and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDM, Type 2) 
are the two types of diabetes mellitus.

The localized inflammatory reaction in the pancreas and 
its surrounding areas marked Type 1 diabetes which is an 
autoimmune disease.[2]

Characteristics of Type 2 diabetes are peripheral insulin 
resistance and insulin efficiency. Insulin-independent sugar 
diabetes is substantially more common than insulin-dependent 
sugar diabetes among the two kinds of diabetes. In non-
insulin-dependent diabetic mellitus, sulphonylureas and a few 
biguanides are efficient therapies for hyperglycemia, but they are 
unable to reestablish glucose homeostasis and normalize glucose 
levels.[3] The pharmacokinetic features, subsequent failure rates, 
and side effects of these medicines limit their use. Even insulin 
therapy does not guarantee a long-term return to normal glucose 
homeostasis, and it is linked to a higher risk of cancer.[4]

The advantage of medicinal plants is that they have no 
or few adverse effects. Some of them have been utilized in 
traditional medical systems for 100s of years in a variety of 
places around the world. Metformin, a drug produced from 
the medicinal plant Galego officinalis was once used in 
medieval Europe to treat diabetes and is still the only medical 
treatment that is moral for NIDDM patients. There is a variety 
of anti-diabetic plants that could be useful in the creation of 
medications for the treatment of sugar diabetes. An excellent 
source of protein in the diet for both humans and animals is 
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.). Fenugreek seeds 

Corresponding Author: 
Ali M. Hussein, Department of Biomedical Sciences,  
Cihan University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. 
E-mail: ali.m.hussein@cihanuniversity.edu.iq

Received: June 23, 2022 
Accepted: August 26, 2022 
Published: September 20, 2022

DOI: 10.24086/cuesj.v6n2y2022.pp99-102

Copyright © 2022 Ali J. Muhialdin, Zhala B. Taha, Rahman K. Faraj,  
Ali M. Hussein, Rayan S. Salahalddin, Hawri A. Majeed. This is an open-access article 
distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).

Cihan University-Erbil Scientific Journal (CUESJ)



Muhialdin, et al.: A Comparison of Chemical Compounds

100 http://journals.cihanuniversity.edu.iq/index.php/cuesj CUESJ 2022, 6 (2): 99-102

and leaves are used to manufacture medicinal extracts and 
powders.[5]

According to reports, it has an anti-diabetic, anti-
parasitic, anti-microbial, anti-infertility, anti-cancer, and 
hypocholesterolemic agent. It also has a lot of minerals and 
vitamins in it.[6] Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), commonly 
referred to as Sweet or Garden Basil, is widely grown 
in the Mediterranean region.[7] Diuretic, antipyretic, 
antispasmodic, and stomachic properties are all found in basil 
seeds.[8] According to various research, including medicinal 
and aromatic plants (MAP) in broiler diets resulted in, an 
increase in body weight, the efficiency of feed conversion, and 
feed cost.[9]

The project’s goal is to demonstrate the chemical 
composition of Basil and Fenugreek seeds and compare it to 
Metformin components to clarify the rationale for utilizing the 
seeds as a Metformin substitute, which will be accomplished 
by completing the following objectives.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Chemicals and Reagents

Metformin HCl (MH) powder, Fenugreek seeds powder, Basil 
seeds powder, 0.1% phosphoric acid, acetonitrile, methanol/
water, Hexane were used as reagents for the whole procedure.

Devices and Instrumentation

The separation was carried out using a Shimadzu 10AV-LC 
liquid chromatography system with the use of binary delivery 
pump model LC-10A Shimadzu, and the eluted peaks were 
kept track of using a UV–Vis 10 A– SPD Spectrophotometer 
[Figure 2]. “Chromatography is a physical separation method 
in which the components to be separated are split into two 
phases, one of which is stationary and the other of which 
moves in a specified direction.” The stationary phase is a solid, 
porous, and surface active substance in small particle form or a 
liquid deposited onto microparticulate beads on an inert solid 
substrate in HPLC (usually silica). The mobile phase in the 
column is a liquid that moves across a packed bed of solid 
surface under pressure.[10]

Chromatographic Conditions

Metformin was isolated on an FLC (fast liquid chromatography) 
column under optimal circumstances. Particle size 3 m, 
Phenomenex C-18 column (50 2.0 mm I.D). Stage of mobility: 
In Solvent B, use 30, 70 v/v acetonitrile; in solvent A, use 
0.1% phosphoric acid. UV 232 nm detection at 1.0 ml/min 
flow rate.[11]

Preparation of Stock Solution

Standard solution preparation; from the stock solution, 
samples of different concentration of Metformin reference were 
produced, which was created by precisely weighing about 10 mg 
Metformin and transferring it to a 100 ml volumetric flask, then 
adding methanol/water (50:50 v/v) as a diluent, shaking the 
sample well in an ultrasonic bath and adding diluents to bring 
the volume up to the desired level. This was then filtered using 
a membrane filter with a 0.45-mm pore size.[12]

Extraction of Ocimum basilicum and 
Trigonella foenum-graecum

0.5 g of sample powder was dissolved in 20 ml hexane 
to remove the lipid bilayer, then the aqueous layer was 
melted in 100 ml of 80:20 solutions (methanol: water). 
The distillate was supersonic at 60% duty cycles for (duty 
revolution for) 20 min at 25°C, followed by centrifugation 
at 7500 rpm for 15 min (Branson conifer, USA). 
Before evaporation under vacuum, each sample’s clear 
supernatant was treated with charcoal to eliminate colors 
(Buchi Rotavapor Re Type).[13]

Chemical Evaluation for Samples

Dried samples were resuspended in 1.0 ml HPLC grade 
methanol by overtaxing. The mixture was poured through a 
2.5 um disposable filter and stored for subsequent analysis at 
4°C. According to optimum conditions, 20 ul of the sample was 
injected into the HPLC system.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The figure 1 shows the standard composition of Metformin 
analysis by HPLC, the retention time for finding the chemical 
was 3.688 with an area 297141v and the concentration was 
65.8425%. The round was stopped at 6.443. A previous 
study showed a similar retention time, which explains over 
the concentration range of 0.312–5 g/mL, the technique was 
linear (R2 = 0.9995). Metformin had a detection limit of 
0.1 g/mL and a quantitation limit of 0.3 g/mL. In the case of 
pharmaceutical formulations, the acquired findings revealed a 
good agreement with the claimed ingredients.[14]

The figure 2 shows the standard composition of Basil 
seed analysis by HPLC, at the first peak, the retention time for 

Figure 1: Metformin standard composition



Muhialdin, et al.: A Comparison of Chemical Compounds

101 http://journals.cihanuniversity.edu.iq/index.php/cuesj CUESJ 2022, 6 (2): 99-102

Figure 2: The composition of basil seeds

Figure 3: Retention time of used extracts

Figure 4: Peak area of used extracts

finding the chemical was 1.153 with an area 59352v and the 
concentration was 7.868%. At the second peak, the retention 
time for finding the chemical was 1.642 with an area 59693v 
and the concentration was 7.9861%. At the third peak, the 
retention time for finding the chemical was 2.565 with area 
48340v and the concentration was 6.4024%. However, at the 
fourth peak, at the time 3.81 with an area 36880v 4.874% was 
the most similar chemical with Metformin composition. Prior 
research found that OAP-1A was a neutral heteropolysaccharide 
consisting of mannose (35.7%), glucose (33.32%), galactose 
(19.6%), and rhamnose (11.38%) which is similar with the 
same chemical composition of Basil seeds result.[15]

The figure 3 shows the standard composition of 
Fenugreeks analysis by HPLC, the retention time for finding 
the chemical was 1.948 with an area 218757v and the 
concentration 15.8732%. At the second peak, the retention 
time for finding the chemical was 3.15 with area 636125v and 
the concentration was 46.158%.

At the third peak, the retention time for finding the 
chemical was 3.983 with area 354686v and the concentration 
was 25.7364%. The study provides an alternative natural 
strategy to treat diabetes, and we began formulating and 
testing these claims based on earlier studies and claims that 
referred to basil seeds as a drug and other studies that referred 
to fenugreek seeds as a medication.

Our data and analysis reveal that eating basil seeds 
as a drug will help reduce or lower blood sugar levels by 
a retention time of 3.81/min, indicating that it is more 
compatible with Metformin hydrochloride, according to 
the study. As shown in figure 4, our findings confirmed the 
previous studies and researches that basil seeds are effective 
in treating diabetes; our study confirms those findings and 
adds to the evidence that basil seeds are a great alternative 
to metformin with few to no side effects.

However, our findings suggest that fenugreek seeds are 
not as effective as other researchers suggest, which may call 
into question theories and studies that have been conducted. 
However, we acknowledge our limits and welcome discussion 
because we do not feel that our research is the ultimate and 
final solution, and that more and more studies in this sector, 
that is, comparing chemically manufactured medications to 
natural resources, are required.

CONCLUSION

Depending on the previous data and figures, each Ocimum 
basilicum, Trigonella foenum-graecum which are known as 
medicinally used seeds have the same chemical as Metformin 
pills with is the official treatment used for optimizing the 
sugar amount in the blood, the future study will be a clinical 
trial which is procedure approved by FDA for finding new 
treatment or drugs.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This project would not have been possible without the 
support of Cihan University-Erbil by providing laboratories 
and equipment for researchers, all efforts and support are 
appreciated.



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