Unmasking the the mechanism of action of some medicinal plants used in diabetes mellitus (657.20)

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic and metabolic disease affecting many parts of the world. It affects over 347 million people globally and about 25.8% of the American population. The drugs in current use for the management of diabetes mellitus are not free from side effects. As a result of limitations in many conventional antidiabetic agents, researchers are now investigating traditional remedies for better alternatives for diabetic treatment. Blueberry and dandelion are used as food and they have been reported by some workers to have therapeutic effect on diabetes mellitus. Some antidiabetic agents e.g. Acarbose reduce conversion of starch and disaccharides to monosaccharides, thereby reducing postprandial hyperglycemia. They do this by inhibiting alpha glucosidases, but they have their side effects. The objective of this study is to examine the alpha glucosidase inhibitory activity of some medicinal plants like blueberry and dandelion. The inhibitory effect of different concentrations of aqueous extracts of blueberry and dandelion separately on alpha glucosidase was studied in vitro. The inhibition study was carried out spectrophotometrically in a 96‐well plate and the absorbance was measured using a Thermo Scientific Multiscan spectrophotometer. Our results indicate that these extracts inhibited alpha glucosidase (EC50 of 32 mg/ml for blueberry and 45 mg/ml for dandelion). In conclusion, blueberry and dandelion inhibited alpha glusidase in our system. Acarbose and miglitol with similar mechanism of action are already marketed for the treatment of diabetes. Observations made in this project will go a long way to furnish more information needed for introduction of better alternatives in managing diabetes. However more studies are needed.