Abstract
Background: Ichnocarpus frutescens has been used as Ayurvedic herbal medicine by Gond tribes in India to treat several diseases such as diabetes mellitus and Jaundice. The growing incidence of diabetes mellitus and its complications have headed to the search of novel therapeutic approaches engrossed on preventing postprandial hyperglycemia. The practice of carbohydrate breakdown enzyme inhibitors from plant resources might be a potential approach to prevent glucose absorption with the least adverse effects. Aims . The objective of the present investigation was to provide in-vitro evidence for the potential inhibitory activity of polyphenolic extract (PPE) of Ichnocarpus frutescens on alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes. Methods: the in the vitro inhibitory effect of polyphenolic extract (PPE) of Ichnocarpus frutescens focused on the evaluation of pancreatic alpha- amylase inhibition, rat serum alpha- amylase inhibition and rat intestinal alpha-glucosidase inhibition of polyphenolic extract (PPE) of Ichnocarpus frutescens by in vitro. The different concentrations of polyphenolic extract were subjected to alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory assay and the percentage of alpha- amylase and alpha- glucosidase inhibitory activity and IC50 values were calculated. Results: Polyphenolic extract shows appreciable pancreatic alpha-amylase inhibitory activity in vitro. The extract also showed an appreciable alpha-glucosidase inhibitory effect in a concentration-dependent manner with a moderate alpha-amylase inhibitory activity. The in vitro examination of the inhibitory effect of PPE on maltase and sucrase activities revealed that PPE inhibited rat small intestine disaccharidase (alpha-glucosidase) activity. Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that inhibitory effect of PPE on alpha- amylase and alpha- glucosidase activities may delay carbohydrate digestion and absorption with subsequent lowering of blood glucose level leading to prevention of postprandial hyperglycemia in diabetes and its complication.