Abstract
A 70% ethanol extract from azuki beans (Vigna angularis) was extracted further with CH2Cl2, EtOAc and n-BuOH to afford four fractions: CH2Cl2-soluble, EtOAc-soluble, n-BuOH-soluble and residual extract fractions. The EtOAc-soluble fractions showed the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Two pure flavonoid compounds, vitexin and isovitexin, were isolated (using the enzyme assay-guide fractionation method) from the EtOAc-soluble fractions. We further evaluated the interaction between the flavonoid compounds and α-glucosidase by fluorescence spectroscopy. Vitexin and isovitexin showed high inhibitory activities, with IC50 values of 0.4 mg·mL−1 and 4.8 mg·mL−1, respectively. This is the first study of the active compositions of azuki beans against α-glucosidase.
Highlights
Interest in glucosidase inhibitors is growing because of its implications for the management of diabetes mellitus (DM)
Sci. 2011, 12 of the small intestine. α-glucosidase has been recognized as a therapeutic target for the modulation of postprandial hyperglycemia, which is the earliest metabolic abnormality to occur in type 2 diabetes mellitus [2,3]
Itoh et al [7] investigated the antidiabetic effects of azuki beans on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats
Summary
Interest in glucosidase inhibitors is growing because of its implications for the management of diabetes mellitus (DM). Α-glucosidase has been recognized as a therapeutic target for the modulation of postprandial hyperglycemia, which is the earliest metabolic abnormality to occur in type 2 diabetes mellitus [2,3]. The inhibition on intestinal α-glucosidases would delay the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates and suppress the postprandial hyperglycemia [4]. Azuki beans have been a subject of extensive investigation due to their biological activities. In the past, they have been recommended as suitable foods for diabetic patients due to their high fiber and protein contents [5]. Itoh et al [7] reported that azuki beans possess inhibition activity against αglucosidase in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The present study was carried out to isolate and identify the active compositions of azuki beans by enzyme assay-guided fractionation
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