Antidiabetic potential of methanol extracts from leaves of Piper umbellatum L. and Persea americana Mill.

• Published in: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine
• Main Authors: Guy Sedar Singor Njateng, Sumera Zaib, Larissa Yetenge Chimi, Cesaire Feudjio, Raymond Simplice Mouokeu, Donatien Gatsing, Jules-Roger Kuiate, Ezekiel Adewole, Jamshed Iqbal
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2018
• Subjects: piper umbellatum; persea americana; glucosidase; maltase-glucoamylase; aldose reductase; aldehyde reductase; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Biology (General); QH301-705.5; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.4103/2221-1691.227997; https://doaj.org/article/453bd991fa654a6fae0992daeffba68f

Objective: To determine inhibitory activity of methanolic leaf extract of Piper umbellatum and Persea americana (P. americana) (traditionally used in Cameroon against diabetes) on α -glucosidase, β -glucosidase, maltase-glucoamylase, aldose reductase and aldehyde reductase activities, enzymes involved in starch digestion or diabetic complications. Methods: The methanol extracts from Piper umbellatum and P. americana were prepared by maceration. To assess relative efficacy of these extracts, the determination of concentrations that were needed to inhibit 50% of enzyme activity was done, whereas, gas chromatography-mass spectrum was used to identify components from extracts that may be responsible for the activities. Results: The tested extracts strongly inhibited α -glucosidase, maltase-glucoamylase, aldose reductase and aldehyde reductase activities with IC50 ranging from (1.07 ± 0.03) to (31.77 ± 1.17) μg/mL. Among the tested extracts, P. americana was the most active against sensitive enzymes (IC50 of 1.07 ± 0.03 to 15.63 ± 1.23). But, none of the extracts showed interesting inhibitory effect against β -glucosidase as their percentage inhibitions were less than 16%. From gas chromatography-mass spectrum analysis, 10 and 8 compounds were identified in Piper umbellatum and P. americana extracts respectively, using NIST library 2014. Conclusions: Results of this study provide the scientific credential for a prospective usage of these plants to treat diabetes.