title: Antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of Achillea tenorii.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a need for the discovery of novel natural remedies to prevent and treat metabolic disorders such as hyperglycemia, type II non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and obesity. Several Achillea species have been utilized for centuries all around the world and are generally considered effective as hypoglycemic.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Considering the ethnobotanical uses of Achillea genus, we evaluated the in vitro inhibitory activity of Achillea tenorii Grande (Asteraceae) extract on α-glucosidase, which is a valuable target to prevent and treat metabolic disorders. We also tested its antioxidant activity. Moreover, the phytochemical profile was discussed from a chemotaxonomic point of view.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro α-glucosidase inhibition of crude ethanolic extract obtained from the aerial parts was assayed as well as the in vitro antioxidant activity (ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP-FZ tests) was measured. The extract was characterized from a phytochemical point of view by means of spectroscopic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The extract results endowed with α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC50 32 µg/mL) with a particular mechanism of action definable as un-competitive, which differed from the mechanism observed for the best-known α-glucosidase inhibitor (acarbose and miglitol). In addition, a considerable antioxidant potential has been found for A. tenorii extract, which resulted mainly constituted by phenolic compounds such as caffeoylquinic acids and flavonoids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest the potential of A. tenorii as a possible natural remedy to prevent and treat metabolic disorders of carbohydrates.
authors: Dipartimento di Chimica and.
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Venditti
authors: Filippo
authors: F
authors: Maggi
authors: Sauro
authors: S
authors: Vittori
authors: Fabrizio
authors: F
authors: Papa
authors: Anna Maria
authors: AM
authors: Serrilli
authors: Mirella
authors: M
authors: Di Cecco
authors: Gianpiero
authors: G
authors: Ciaschetti
authors: Manuela
authors: M
authors: Mandrone
authors: Ferruccio
authors: F
authors: Poli
authors: Armandodoriano
authors: A
authors: Bianco
mesh_terms: D031162:Achillea; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D065089:Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D065089:Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases
keywords: Phytochemical profile; type II diabetes; un-competitive α-glucosidase inhibition