Phenolic bioactives and associated antioxidant and anti-hyperglycemic functions of select species of Apiaceae family targeting for type 2 diabetes relevant nutraceuticals

Plant species rich in human health relevant bioactives are excellent targets to develop non-food nutraceuticals, which can complement the use of pharmaceutical drugs to combat global epidemic of non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs). Developing strategies to explore and evaluate the efficacy of plant sources towards prevention of hyperglycemia and hypertension linked to type 2 diabetes would serve as the basis for innovation towards designing non-food nutraceuticals for wider applications. Therefore, the aim of this study was to screen and evaluate seed extracts of select species from the family Apiaceae targeting therapeutic and non-food nutraceutical uses towards the management of hyperglycemia-linked to type 2 diabetes. Aqueous (hot water) and ethanol extracts (12%) of seeds from 6 targeted species of Apiaceae family were screened and evaluated for total soluble phenolic content, phenolic acids profile, total antioxidant activity, α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities using rapid in vitro assay models. In both aqueous and ethanol extracts, high total soluble phenolic content was observed in ajowan (Trachyspermum amni) and in dill (Anethum graveolens). High and positive correlations between total soluble phenolic content and total antioxidant activity (r = 0.73) was also observed in ethanolic extracts of targeted species. Overall, low α-amylase and moderate α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was found in all targeted species; however these anti-hyperglycemic properties varied significantly between species and extraction types. The results of this in vitro study indicates that water and ethanol soluble phenolic bioactive fractions of these select seeds of Apiaceae family has type 2 diabetes relevant antioxidant and anti-hyperglycemic functions and can be targeted for designing non-food nutraceuticals.