title: Phenolic-linked biochemical rationale for the anti-diabetic properties of Swertia chirayita (Roxb. ex Flem.) Karst.
abstract: The crude extract of Swertia chirayita, an important medicinal plant of Nepal, is locally used for many diseases including type 2 diabetes. In this study, crude aqueous and 12% ethanol solution extracts of S. chirayita collected from nine districts of Nepal were analyzed for anti-diabetic-linked anti-hyperglycemia potential using in vitro biochemical assays. There was moderate-to-high positive correlation between antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of both extracts and moderate-to-high α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Although the anti-diabetic property of S. chirayita is mainly attributed to the phytochemical swerchirin present in its hexane fraction, we propose that the crude extract of this plant used in local healing also has anti-hyperglycemia potential. The crude extracts indicated the presence of three main phytochemicals mainly mangiferin, swertiamarin, and amarogentin and their derivatives. Among the standard compounds (mangiferin, swertiamarin, and amarogentin), mangiferin showed α-glucosidase and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical inhibitory activity indicating anti-hyperglycemia potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Phoboo
authors.forename: Marcia Da Silva
authors.initials: Mda S
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Ana Cristina Lopes
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Dipayan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.forename: Prasanta C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Bhowmik
authors.forename: Pramod Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Jha
authors.forename: Kalidas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shetty
mesh_terms: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D065089:Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D039823:Iridoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D009390:Nepal; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D010851:Picrates / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D029967:Swertia / Q000737:chemistry*; D044004:Xanthones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D065089:Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D039823:Iridoids; D010636:Phenols; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D044004:Xanthones; C013592:mangiferin; C034385:swerchirin; C102609:amarogentin; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl