α-Glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitors from Myrcia spp.: a stronger alternative to acarbose?

• New natural alternative to acarbose.
• First evaluation of α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition by 3 Myrcia species.
• Promising results for herbal plants for management of diabetes.
• First HPLC-DAD fingerprint of M. speciosa, M. sphaerocarpa and M. salicifolia.
• Nine phenolic compounds described for the first time in Myrcia genus.

“Pedra hume caá” is the common name of five species of Myrcia genus used as traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. In this study, different extracts from Myrcia salicifolia, Myrcia sphaerocarpa, and Myrcia speciosa were investigated for the first time, to identify their phenolic compounds (being 3-O-rhamnoside derivatives of myricetin and quercetin the major ones) and in vitro inhibitory potential against α-glucosidase and α-amylase. These extracts inhibited 90–500 times more α-glucosidase (IC50 = 0.7 to 4.1 μg ml−1) than acarbose and displayed a mild inhibition against α-amylase (IC50 = 6.1 to 29 μg mL−1).

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