Inhibition of -Amylase and -Glucosidase by Extracts from and .

Background: This research assessed the antidiabetic activity and phytochemical constituents of the traditionally used medicinal plants, .

Method: The leaves of both plants were subjected to cold extraction method using 70% ethanol and hot Soxhlet extraction using n-hexane, chloroform, methanol, and distilled water. The extracts were studied for their effect on glucose transport across yeast cells and inhibition of -amylase and -glucosidase enzyme activities. Thin-layer chromatographic analysis of ethanol extract was also undertaken.

Results: The results of yeast glucose uptake assay revealed that extracts from both plants had a maximum increase in glucose uptake at the 25mM glucose concentration with a maximum dose of 2000g/ml plant extract. The ethanol extract of and aqueous extract of showed a high activity of 68% and 96%, respectively, at 25mM and 2000g/ml of glucose and extract concentration. exerted peak inhibition activity of -amylase of 37.5 ± 3% mg/dl (IC = 0.523 mg/dl) for methanol and distilled water extract at 0.5 mg/dl, respectively. methanol extract exhibited the highest inhibition activity of 38 ± 8 % mg/dl (IC50 = 0.543 mg/dl) at 0.5 mg/dl. In the -glucosidase inhibition assay, the methanolic extract of exhibited the highest inhibitory activity of 17.29 ± 9% mg/dl (IC = 0.761 mg/dl) at 0.5mg/dl. The chloroform extract of had the highest inhibitory activity of 30 ± 5% mg/dl (IC = 0.6mg/dl) at 0.5 mg/dL. Phytochemical analysis of the different extracts of and revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phytosterols, and carbohydrates. Thin-layer chromatography analysis of ethanolic extract of both plants indicated presence of 15 and 17 spots for and respectively.

Conclusion: and extracts have moderate inhibitory activity against pancreatic -amylase and relatively low inhibitory activities against -glucosidase. The observed effects may be associated with the presence of flavonoids, saponins, and alkaloids. Additional analysis, toxicological studies, isolation, and structural characterization of the phytomolecules identified in this study and molecular docking studies should be undertaken.