Screening of African traditional vegetables for their alpha-amylase inhibitory effect

Dynamic Chiropractic

关键词: African leafy vegetables;    anti-diabetic;    α    -amylase;    inhibitory effects.;   

DOI  :  10.5897/JMPR09.090

学科分类：医学（综合）

来源: MPA Media

【 摘 要 】

Diabetes is a syndrome of disordered metabolism resulting in abnormally high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia). The one possibility of lowering postprandial glucose levels is by the inhibition of α-amylase activity. In this study, aqueous extracts from leaves, fruits and flowers, stems and roots of twenty African traditional vegetable plants were tested for their inhibitory effect on α-amylase. The results showed that leaves ofCentella asiatica(3 and 5 mg/ml) andCeratotheca triloba(5 mg/ml), roots ofCleome monophylla(5 mg/ml), fruits and flowers ofAmaranthus hybridus(3 mg/ml),Justicia flava(3 mg/ml)andChenopodium album(3 mg/ml), stem parts ofJ. flava(3 mg/ml),Portulaca oleracea(3 mg/ml) andCleome monophylla(3 mg/ml) showed significant (more than 70%) reduction in α-amylase activity. Though results from this study showed significant α-amylase inhibition at higher concentrations (3 and 5 mg/ml), traditionally used anti-diabetic medicinal plants are found to have α-amylase inhibition at very low concentrations, mostly less than 1 mg/ml. These traditional plant species regularly consumed as vegetables by rural people, will not only give dietary nutritional benefits, but also play vital role in inhibiting α-amylase activity, thereby reducing the blood glucose level and benefiting diabetic patients.

【 授权许可】

Unknown