title: Alpha-Amylase Inhibition and Antioxidative Capacity of Some Antidiabetic Plants Used by the Traditional Healers in Southeastern Nigeria.
abstract: Oxidative stress plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome including diabetes mellitus (DM). The inhibition of alpha-amylase is an important therapeutic target in the regulation of postprandial increase of blood glucose in diabetic patients. The present study investigated the alpha-amylase inhibitory and antioxidant potential of selected herbal drugs used in the treatment of DM by the traditional healers in Isiala Mbano and Ikwuano regions of southeastern Nigeria. Antioxidant activity was evaluated in terms of free radical scavenging, reducing power, and total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid content (TFC) in consonance with the TLC profiling. The results showed that methanol crude extracts fromAnacardium occidentale(AO) andCeiba pentandra(CP) recorded higher TPC and TFC, potent free radical scavenging, and efficient reducing power (RP) as compared with other plant samples. All the plant extracts exhibited a relative alpha-amylase inhibition apart fromStrophanthus hispidus(SH) extract with a negative effect. We discovered a mild to weak correlation between alpha-amylase inhibition or antioxidative capacity and the total phenol or flavonoid content. At least in part, the results obtained in this work support the traditional use of certain plant species in the treatment of patients with DM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nature Conservation and Ethnobotany, Mangosuthu University of Technology P.O. Box 12363, Jacobs, Durban 4026, South Africa.
authors.forename: Sunday O
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0897-2598
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Oyedemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Blessing O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Oyedemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ifeoma I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Ijeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Princemartins E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Ohanyerem
authors.affiliation: Department of Nature Conservation and Ethnobotany, Mangosuthu University of Technology P.O. Box 12363, Jacobs, Durban 4026, South Africa.
authors.forename: Roger M
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4418-8626
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Coopoosamy
authors.affiliation: GI Microbiology and Biotechnology Unit, Agricultural Research Council, Animal Production Institute, Irene, Pretoria 0062, South Africa.
authors.forename: Olayinka A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Aiyegoro
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009549:Nigeria; D010636:Phenols / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000516:alpha-Amylases