In vitro studies on alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase inhibitory activities of selected plant extracts

The aim of this work was to evaluate the inhibitory activities of methanolic extracts of Artocarpus altilis, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Piper betel and Artocarpus heterophyllus on Wheat alpha amylase and Baker’s yeast alpha glucosidase at varying concentrations. Diabetes mellitus is a clinical condition characterized by hyperglycaemia in which an elevated amount of glucose circulates in the blood plasma. Alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase inhibitors are used to achieve greater control over hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus. The present study intends to screen novel alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase inhibitors from natural sources like plants in order to minimize the toxicity and side effects of the inhibitors currently used to control hyperglycemia. The alpha amylase inhibition assay showed that the methanolic extracts of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (130.55 μg/mL), Artocarpus altilis (118.88 μg/mL), Piper betel (84.63 μg/mL) and Artocarpus heterophyllus (70.58 μg/mL) exhibited 50% alpha amylase inhibition activity at the mentioned concentrations. The alpha glucosidase IC50 for the plant extracts A. altilis, A. heterophyllus, C. zeylanicum and Piper betel was found to be 129.85±10.29, 76.90±9.55, 140.01±10.08 and 96.56±12.93 μg/ml respectively. The results of the work therefore clearly indicate the potential of these extracts to manage hyperglycemia.