## 4 Evaluation of Biological Properties
### Antidiabetic Activity  
Daucosterol extracted from the chloroform fraction of _Swertia longifolia_ [PERSON], was tested among other examined compounds in the study performed by [PERSON] and collaborators (Table 6). The results showed that daucosterol had the highest inhibitory activity against the digestive enzyme \(\alpha\)-amylase (57.5 \(\pm\) 3.1% in a 10 mg/mL) [126]. In the same context, the inhibitory activity of daucosterol purified from the peel of Chinese water chestnuts was evaluated in the study conducted by [PERSON] et al. [33] against the same enzyme (Table 6). Using fluorescence quenching, enzyme inhibition, and molecular docking models, results showed that three saponins from Chinese water chestnut bark exhibit a potent \(\alpha\)-amylase inhibitory effect, and that daucosterol was the major inhibitory factor of this enzyme with a mixed-mode [33]. To find effective strategies for the treatment of diabetes using \(\alpha\)-glucosidase inhibitors, [PERSON] et al. [42] assessed the antidiabetic effect of five natural drugs isolated from the flowers of _Musu_ spp. (Baxijiao), including ferulic acid, vanillic acid, \(\beta\)-sitosterol, daucosterol, and 9-(4\({}^{\prime}\)-hydroxyphenyl)-2-methoxyphenylalen-1-one, against this enzyme. Daucosterol exhibited an excellent \(\alpha\)-glucosidase inhibitory action, with an IC\({}_{50}\) value of 247.35 mg/L and an inhibition constant of 2.34 mg/L. \(\beta\)-sitosterol and 9-(4\({}^{\prime}\)-hydroxyphenyl)-2-methoxyphenylalen-1-one also showed potent \(\alpha\)-glucosidase inhibiting activity [42]. Similarly, [PERSON] and colleagues investigated the antidiabetic effect of ten bioactive compounds, including daucosterol isolated from the root of _Geranium collinum_[53]. Using molecular docking, they observed that daucosterol could play a key role in inhibiting human \(\alpha\)-glucosidase, while polyphenic agents are probably involved in inhibiting PTP-1B. On the other hand, [PERSON] and collaborators investigated the possible effects of daucosterol and its aglycone (\(\beta\)-sitosterol) as an antihyperglycemic and insulin release [128]. The action of these agents on plasma insulin and glucose levels in normal and hyperglycemic rats after oral treatment was found to increase fasting plasma insulin levels. Additionally, they noted that both compounds enhance oral glucose tolerance and improve glucose-induced insulin release. In addition, [PERSON] et al. [58] tested the capacity of p-glucono-1,4-lactone and daucosterol isolated from _Rosa canina_ fruits to inhibit \(\alpha\)-glucosidase using the substrate p-nitrophenyl-\(\alpha\)-D-glucopyranoside (pNPG). The findings revealed that both agents contribute to the inhibition of \(\alpha\)-glucosidase with a high effect; the IC\({}_{50}\) values of p-glucono-1,4-lactone and daucosterol on yeast \(\alpha\)-glucosidase were 6.5 \(\pm\) 2.0 and 13.3 \(\pm\) 1.9 \(\upmu\)M, respectively [58]. From the perspective of characterizing and isolating the antidiabetic molecules present in the leaves of _Costus pictus_, [PERSON] et al. [128] observed that \(\beta\)-sitosterol-3-O-\(\beta\)-D-glucose extracted from _Costus pictus_ leaves exhibited a significant dose-dependent hypoglycemic action in rats after enteric coating compared to the uncoated compound [128]. The inhibitory effects on \(\alpha\)-glucosidase in vitro and the increase in postprandial glycemia in maltose-loaded mice by the saponin component of _Eleocharis dulcis_ bark were investigated in a recent study by [PERSON] et al. [33]. Using NMR spectroscopy, three saponins were detected: campesterol glucoside, daucosterol, and stigmasterol glucoside. All three saponins were found to exert potent \(\alpha\)-glucosidase inhibition, with IC\({}_{50}\) values of 10.03 mg/L (campesterol glucoside), 7.68 mg/L (stigmasterol glucoside), and 5.67 mg/L (daucosterol), which were notably greater than that of acarbose (91.50 mg/L). Further, daucosterol showed the greatest inhibitory capacity against \(\alpha\)-glucosidase [33].