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Planta Med 2012; 78(4): 393-399
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1280404
Biological Screening
Original Papers
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Inhibitory Activity of α-Amylase and α-Glucosidase by Plant Extracts from the Brazilian Cerrado

Paula Monteiro de Souza1 , Paloma Michelle de Sales1 , Luiz Alberto Simeoni1 , Elton Clementino Silva2 , Dâmaris Silveira1 , 2 , Pérola de Oliveira Magalhães1
  • 1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
  • 2Department of Pharmacy, Campus Ceilândia, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
Further Information

Publication History

received June 7, 2011 revised Nov. 8, 2011

accepted Nov. 10, 2011

Publication Date:
01 December 2011 (online)

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Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is the most common disease in the world. One therapeutic approach for treating diabetes is inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities to reduce postprandial blood glucose levels. In vitro tests showed that several plant extracts from Brazilian cerrado species can inhibit the activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. The extracts of Eugenia dysenterica, Stryphnodendron adstringens, Pouteria caimito, Pouteria ramiflora, and Pouteria torta showed strong α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Eugenia dysenterica, P. caimito, P. ramiflora, and P. torta aqueous extracts exerted the highest activity against α-amylase (IC50 values of 14.93, 13.6, 7.08, and 5.67 µg/mL, respectively) and α-glucosidase (IC50 values of 0.46, 2.58, 0.35, and 0.22 µg/mL, respectively). Stryphnodendron adstringens ethanol extract also exhibited inhibitory activity against both enzymes (IC50 1.86 µg/mL against α-amylase and 0.61 µg/mL against α-glucosidase). The results suggest that the activity of these cerrado plants on α-amylase and α-glucosidase represents a potential tool for development of new strategies for treatment of diabetes.

Key words

enzyme inhibition - α-amylase - α-glucosidase - cerrado - Brazilian savannah - diabetes

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Paula Monteiro de Souza

Departamento de Farmácia
Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde
Universidade de Brasília

Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro

70919–970, Brasília, Distrito Federal

Brasil

Phone: + 55 61 92 36 40 20

Email: paulasouza22@yahoo.com.br