Abstract
Apart from their nutritional value, vegetables and spices were empirically known to have functional properties such as antioxidant and antidiabetic activity. However, scientific evidence of these health effects is limited. In our effort to find potent raw material for antidiabetic functional food development, α-glucosidase inhibition and antioxidant activity of 15 Indonesian vegetables and spices methanolic extracts were screened. Their phytochemical profiles were assessed by determining total phenolic content (TPC) and 1H NMR fingerprinting. The results showed that the Syzygium polyanthum, Pluchea indica, Etlingera elaitor, and Cosmos caudatus had the highest GIA (IC50 11.76 ± 0.32, 12.17 ± 0.18, 53.13 ± 2.87, and 61.33 ± 1.21 μg/ml, respectively). The AA and TPC of the four samples were also higher than the others. The 1H NMR profiles of the active samples were different from the non-active samples mainly in the aromatic region. Further observation of the spectra revealed that caffeoylquinic derivatives and esculetin were identified in P. indica; while gallic acid, syringic acid, and myricetin were identified in S. polyanthum. These compounds were known to have antidiabetic activity through different mechanisms.
Highlights
Vegetables and spices have been widely used for the prevention and treatment of many diseases since 500 b.c.e. by the ancient Greeks and later by the Chinese (Kelly, 2009)
Further observation of the spectra revealed that caffeoylquinic derivatives and esculetin were identified in P. indica; while gallic acid, syringic acid, and myricetin were identified in S. polyanthum
The results showed that S. grandiflora extract had the lowest Antioxidant Activity (AA) (IC50 588.48 μg/ml), while S. polyanthum extract had the highest AA among others (IC50 2.46 μg/mL)
Summary
Vegetables and spices have been widely used for the prevention and treatment of many diseases since 500 b.c.e. by the ancient Greeks and later by the Chinese (Kelly, 2009). The use of vegetables and spices as medicine is mostly based on empirical experiences and supported by scientific-based research in the laboratory. The research of plant species that have antidiabetic activity remains attractive, especially to find species that are effective and safe for diabetes prevention and treatment, given complaints of side effects and toxicities from consumption of the hypoglycemic drug used for long-term therapy (Derosa & Maffioli, 2012). The exploration of vegetables and spices for the prevention and treatment of degenerative diseases, including diabetes mellitus, is becoming an important research topic recently
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