Alpha-glucosidase and Alpha-amylase inhibitory activity by poly herbal extract with reference to positive control acarbose

Abstract

It is well known that type 2 diabetes is an endocrine disease. Among glucose-lowering medications, α glucosidase which is a membrane bound enzyme at the epithelium of the small intestine that catalyses the cleavage of glucose from disaccharide are effective for delaying for glucose absorption. i.e., inhibitors delay the absorption of ingested carbohydrates, reducing the postprandial glucose. Pancreatic α-amylase is a key enzyme in the digestive system and catalyses the initial step in hydrolysis of starch to a mixture of smaller oligosaccharides consisting of maltose, maltotriose and a number of a-(l-6) and a-(1-4) oligoglucans. These are then acted on by alpha-glucosidases and further degraded to glucose which on absorbtion enters the blood-stream. Degradation of this dietary starch proceeds rapidly and leads to elevated PPHG (post-prandial hyperglycemia). It has been shown that activity of HPA (human pancreatic alpha-amylase) in the small intestine correlates to an increase in post-prandial glucose levels, the control of which is therefore an important aspect in treatment of type 2 diabetes. Pancreatic a-amylase inhibitors offer an effective strategy to lower the levels of post-prandial hyperglycemia via control of starch breakdown. By this study the Herbal extract demonstrated potent inhibitory activity for both the enzymes.