Abstract
In the present study crude ethanolic extract and its various fractions (ethyl acetate, hexane and aqueous) of medicinal plant Carum carvi L. were examined for alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibition using an-in vitro model. Both digestive enzymes were extracted from bovine and green gram. The crude extract and its fractions were also studied for their antioxidant potential by DPPH and Nitric oxide activity. The quantitative assessment of phenol and flavonoid contents was also estimated. The crude extract and its fractions exhibited high in-vitro enzyme inhibitory activity against alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase at different concentrations with IC50 ranging from 421.4 +/- 7.8 to 810 +/- 5.7 land 72 +/- 8.81 to 307.0 +/- 11.42 mu g/mL of each extract respectively. The plant showed highest total phenolic contents ranging from 29.5 +/- 0.49 to 112.5 +/- 0.36mg/g Gallic acid of extract, while the total flavonoid contents were estimated from3.08 +/- 0.02-85.4 +/- 0.12mg/g Quercetin. The antioxidant activities of the all extracts, measured in terms of IC50 values were in the range of 53.05 +/- 1.98 to 211.5 +/- 31.06 mu g/mL. Nitric oxide scavenging ability exhibited their IC50 values from 26.3 +/- 5.51 to 121.3 +/- 5.32 mu g/mL. Ethanolic crude extract showed excellent result among all these fractions. GCMS analysis of ethanolic extract of Carum carvi L indicated the presence of several phytochemicals such as monoterpenes, unsaturated fatty acids, furan derivatives, phenolic and flavonoid contents.