Abstract

The purpose of this study was to measure total phenolic compounds as a measure of antioxidant activity as well as α-amylase inhibitory and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities as a measure of anti-diabetic efficacy in methanol extracts from 23 kinds of medicinal plants. Extracts of three medicinal plant species showing high total polyphenol contents were selected (Euonymus alatus stem, Taxus cuspidata fruit, and Eucommia ulmoides leaf). Extracts of six medicinal plant species showing over 60% DPPH radical scavenging activity were also selected [Eucommia ulmoides barks (80.10%), Lycium chinense roots (64.25%), Euonymus alatus stem (73.59%), Lespedeza cuneata (78.20%), Taxus cuspidata fruits (70.52%), and Tilia taquetii leaf and stem (67.81%)]. Regarding α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities acarbose showing approximately 80% inhibitory activity was selected as a control group, and six species (Eucommia ulmoides heartwood, Eucommia ulmoides bark, Euonymus alatus stem, Dioscorea batatas, Coix lachryma-jobi, and Phaseolus radiatus) showed greater than 80% α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Extracts of nine medicinal plant. species showing over 80% α-amylase inhibitory activity (Pueraria thunbergiana root, Eucommia ulmoides bark, Eucommia ulmoides leaf, Lycium chinense fruits, Euonymus alatus leaf and stem, Euonymus alatus stem, Sasa borealis whole, Dioscorea batatas leaf and stem, and Tilia taquetii leaf and stem). Based on these results, medicinal plants showing high antioxidant and antidiabetic activities can be used as fundamental products in developing new medicines, as well as functional foods to prevent adult disease.

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