In Vitro Evaluation of Alpha-amylase Inhibition, Antioxidant Potential and Phytochemical Analysis of Acacia Modesta

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia, which affects insulin secretion. Among several approaches to treat diabetes, controlling postprandial hyperglycemia is an effective way to manage diabetes type II. In this regard, medicinal plants are considered the best source of new chemical entities with fewer side effects. This study aims to evaluate the alpha-amylase inhibitory potential of Acacia modesta ethanol and aqueous extracts in correlation with its antioxidant potential and develop an anti-diabatic drug against the alpha-amylase enzyme that can control the post-prandial hyperglycemia. We used the starch-iodine color change method for α-amylase, a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay for determining the antioxidant potential and determined different phytochemicals, including phenols, flavonoids, and tannins by spectrophotometry. The results indicated that the gum of A. modesta possesses potent α-amylase inhibitory potential with IC 50 values of 100.4 ± 0.04 µg/mL in ethanol and 91.8 ± 0.05 µg/mL in the aqueous extract, which was approximately 3-folds higher compared to standard acarbose (286.8 ± 0.04 µM). The antioxidant activity was also higher in gum compared to any other part. As for phytochemical analysis, this plant possesses higher amounts of tannins and phenols, while flavonoids are in lesser amounts. The gum of A. modesta shows a dual mode of action, i.e., antioxidant and amylase inhibitor, which makes it a better candidate for diabetes management. The novelty is that, to our knowledge, this study is the first to report the anti-diabetic and antioxidant properties of A. modesta using pancreatic amylase as a drug target from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Keywords: Acacia modesta , alpha-amylase, flavonoids, tannins, antioxidant. https://doi.org/10.55463/issn.1674-2974.50.2.30