Open Accessα-Amylase and α-Glucosidase inhibitory activity assessment of <em>Cucurbita maxima </em>seeds – a LIBS based study
Author(s) -
Devesh Kumar Kushawaha,
Manjulika Yadav,
Sanjukta Chatterji,
Amrita Srivastava,
Geeta Watal
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
international journal of phytomedicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 0975-0185
DOI - 10.5138/09750185.1906
Subject(s) - postprandial , cucurbita maxima , acarbose , chemistry , amylase , carbohydrate , alpha amylase , enzyme , biochemistry , diabetes mellitus , endocrinology , biology , botany
The aim of the present study was to investigate, α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of the aqueous extract of Cucurbita maxima seeds in vitro and to correlate their activity with their phytoelemental profile quantitatively assessed by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). Diabetes can be managed by controlling postprandial hyperglycemia which can be achieved by inhibiting carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes like α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Results reveal that the C. maxima seeds have appreciable α-amylase inhibitory activity of 46.03±1.37% with IC 50 value at 7.00±0.29 mg ml -1 in addition to substantial α-glucosidase inhibitory effect of 35.11±1.04% with IC 50 at 8.11±0.36 mg ml -1 . Acarbose was used as a reference. LIBS analysis showed the presence of certain phytoelements viz. Mg, Ca, K and Na which are well known glycemic elements and hence could be responsible for inhibitory activity of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes.Thus, α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory action of C. maxima seeds would be responsible for their antidiabetic activity. The glycemic elemental profile further validates their role in controlling diabetes and hence C. maxima seeds could be explored as a potential herbal candidate for managing postprandial hyperglycemia causing type 2 diabetes mellitus.