Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
3484407 | Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences | 2015 | 10 Pages |
ObjectivesThis study investigated the phenolic constituents, antioxidant properties and effect of aqueous extracts from some Corchorus species (C. aestuans, C. bougoudo, C. capsularis, C. olitorius and C. urtifolicus) on α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities in vitro.MethodsGas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) was used to characterize the phenolic constituents. Aqueous extracts were prepared weight/volume (w/v) and their effects on α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities, Fe2+ induced lipid peroxidation, and 1,1-diphenyl-2 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging properties were determined. Fe2+ chelating abilities and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) properties were also studied.ResultsThe predominant phenolics detected by GC-FID were kaempferol, rutin, apigenin, luteolin, caffeic acid and quercetin. The results showed that all the Corchorus species significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities dose-dependently (0–8 μg/ml). C. olitorius had the highest α-amylase inhibitory ability while C. bougoudo demonstrated the maximum α-glucosidase inhibition. However, all the Corchorus species inhibited α-glucosidase better than α-amylase and also exhibited antioxidant properties.ConclusionsThe enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant properties exhibited by the Corchorus species could be attributed to their phenolic constituents and vitamin C content; a possible mechanism by which Corchorus species could elicit therapeutic effects on type 2 diabetes mellitus as obtained in folklore medicine.