title: Evaluation of alpha- amylase inhibition by Urtica dioica and Juglans regia extracts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  One strategy for the treatment of diabetes is inhibition of pancreatic α- amylase. Plants contains different chemical constituents with potential for inhibition of α-amylase and hence maybe used as therapeutic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urtica dioica and Juglans regia Linn were tested for α-amylase inhibition. Different concentrations of leaf aqueous extracts were incubated with enzyme substrate solution and the activity of enzyme was measured. For determination of the type of inhibition, Dixon plot was depicted. Acarbose was used as the standard inhibitor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both plant extracts showed time and concentration dependent inhibition of α-amylase. 60% inhibition was seen with 2 mg/ml of U. dioica and 0.4 mg/ml of J. regia aqueous extract. Dixon plots revealed the type of α-amylase inhibition by these two extracts as competitive inhibition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Determination of the type of α-amylase inhibition by these plant extracts could provide by successful use of plant chemicals as drug targets.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Medicine Research Center, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahsa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahimzadeh
authors.affiliation: Molecular Medicine Research Center, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Samaneh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jahanshahi
authors.affiliation: Molecular Medicine Research Center, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Soheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moein
authors.affiliation: Medicinal Plant Processing Research Center and Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmood Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Moein
keywords: Amylase inhibition; Diabetes; Plant extract