Abstract
Background and Aims: Most of the Medicago species are considered good quality forage crops due to their rich protein content. This study reports antioxidant properties, total phenolic and flavonoid content, enzyme (acetylcholinesterase (AChE), tyrosinase, α-amylase and α-glucosidase) inhibition activities of methanol (MeOH), ethyl acetate (EA) and, aqueous (AQ) extracts of Medicago murex (M. murex). Methods: The antioxidant activity of the different extracts of M. murex were evaluated using FRAP and CUPRAC assays. The contents of total phenolic and flavonoid were determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu and the Aluminium chloride (AlCl3) colorimetric methods. Also, the enzyme inhibition activities were shown spectrophotometrically for AChE, α-amylase, α-glucosidase and tyrosinase enzymes. Results: Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of different extracts were determined between 83.70-163.93 mg GAE/g extract and 24.48-26.05 μg QE/g extract, respectively. AQ extracts were the most active extracts in FRAP while being the best inhibitor of the AChE enzyme. On the other hand, EA extracts were the most active extracts in CUPRAC methods and the best inhibitors for other enzymes. Conclusion: Considering the findings, M. murex appears to be an important source of natural antioxidants and enzyme inhibitors, and it provides important baseline data for the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Highlights
MATERIALS AND METHODSPlants have been used for therapeutic purposes throughout history
Ac-Pamukcu et al Investigation of in vitro anti-hyperpigmentation, antidiabetic, neuroprotective and antioxidant potential of Medicago murex WILLD. (Fabaceae) cording to the results given in Table 1, the two major groups of bioactives; phenols (TPC) of the extracts of the plant were found to vary between 83.70 and 163.93 mg GAE/g extract
Based on the studies reported in the literature, different or same Medicago species may have different rates of phenolic substance content depending on different factors such as geographical area, climate or genetics (Baiano, Terracone, Viggiani, & Del Nobile, 2013)
Summary
MATERIALS AND METHODSPlants have been used for therapeutic purposes throughout history. There has been an increasing interest in bioactive compounds from the plant kingdom recently because they have fewer side effects, are cheaper than general synthetic drugs, and influence the production of free radicals (Martins, Barros & Ferreira, 2016). Medicago species are traditionally consumed as salads, sandwiches, soups and tisane (Takyi, Kido, Rikimaru, & Kennedy, 1992), and its leaves are used to reduce cholesterol level (Mölgaard, von Schenck, & Olsson, 1987) Despite these uses, Medicago spp. has been practiced in health problems, including diabetes, gastric ulcer, cancer and menopause symptoms due to its different therapeutic effects (Mortensen et al, 2009). This study reports antioxidant properties, total phenolic and flavonoid content, enzyme (acetylcholinesterase (AChE), tyrosinase, α-amylase and α-glucosidase) inhibition activities of methanol (MeOH), ethyl acetate (EA) and, aqueous (AQ) extracts of Medicago murex (M. murex).
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