Pancreatic Alpha-amylase Activity Research Articles

Thymol, a bioactive component of ocimum gratissimum linn. leaf ameliorated diabetes-induced exocrine pancreas insufficiency in male wistar rats

Background and aims: Exocrine pancreas insufficiency characterized by decreased pancreatic enzyme activity is one of the conditions associated with prolonged diabetes mellitus. Anti-diabetic activity of Ocimum gratissimum linn. leaf in experimental animals is well documented and using gas chromatography mass spectroscopy analysis, thymol has been identified as one of its bioactive components. This study investigated the effect of thymol on pancreatic alpha amylase activities and oxidative stress biomarkers in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats grouped into four as Control, THY, DIA, and DIA+THY were used. Animals in DIA and DIA+THY were diabetic orally administered distilled water and thymol (20 mg/kg), respectively, while control and THY were normal rats treated similarly for 14 days. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), liver function, lipid profile, and oxidative stress biomarkers were determined in the blood while the pancreas was obtained for amylase activities. Results: Thymol treatment in the DIA+THY decreased FBG (119.75 ± 20.10 mg/dl), cholesterol (129.22 ± 8.34 mg/dl), triglycerides (116.41 ± 8.34 mg/dl), and low-density lipoprotein (101.89 ± 8.28 mg/dl) when compared with the DIA (209.25 ± 46.88 mg/dl, 156.31 ± 16.21 mg/dl, 143.13 ± 14.81 mg/dl, and 131.23 ± 13.38 mg/dl, respectively). Increased alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase observed in DIA were reversed in the Dia+THY. Pancreatic amylase activity was reduced in DIA (3.01 ± 0.50 Activity/mg.protein) compared with control (6.4 ± 0.42 Activity/mg.protein) and this was increased in DIA+THY (6.73 ± 0.39 Activity/mg.protein) relative to DIA. Increased plasma malondialdehyde and decreased catalase activity were observed in the DIA group and these were reversed in the DIA+THY group Conclusions: Thymol has hypoglycemic properties and stimulates pancreatic alpha-amylase activity through a mechanism that may be linked to its antioxidant properties.

Acute effect of Ceylon cinnamon extract on postprandial glycemia: alpha-amylase inhibition, starch tolerance test in rats, and randomized crossover clinical trial in healthy volunteers.

BackgroundPostprandial hyperglycemia is a known risk factor for the development of several health disorders including type 2 diabetes, obesity, oxidative stress, and cardiovascular diseases. One encouraging approach for a better control of postprandial glycemia is to reduce carbohydrate digestion. Cinnamon extracts have been known for managing blood glucose. However, their effects on inhibiting digestion of carbohydrate have been poorly analyzed to date. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effect of a specific Ceylon cinnamon hydro-alcoholic extract (CCE) on carbohydrate digestion and post-meal blood glucose reduction.MethodsIn vitro enzymatic assays and in vivo starch tolerance tests in rats were designed as preclinical assays. Then, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over clinical trial was conducted in 18 healthy female and male volunteers. Following the intake of 1 g of CCE, the subjects ate a standardized meal. Blood samples were collected during the 2 hours following the meal to measure glucose and insulin concentrations. Areas under the curves were calculated and statistical differences between the CCE and placebo groups were analyzed using the Mann Whitney-Wilcoxon test.ResultsCCE has demonstrated in the in vitro study that it inhibited pancreatic alpha-amylase activity with an IC50 of 25 μg/mL. In the in vivo study, CCE was shown to acutely reduce the glycemic response to starch in a dose-dependent manner in rats. This effect was significant from the dose of 12.5 mg/kg of body weight. In both, the in vitro and in vivo studies, the hydro-alcoholic extract has shown to be more efficacious than the aqueous extract. In the human clinical trial, 1 g of CCE lowered the area under the curve of glycemia between 0 and 120 min by 14.8% (P = 0.15) and between 0 and 60 min by 21.2% (P < 0.05) compared to the placebo. This effect occurred without stimulating insulin secretion. No adverse effects were reported.ConclusionThese results suggest that Ceylon cinnamon hydro-alcoholic extract (CCE) may provide a natural and safe solution for the reduction of postprandial hyperglycemia and therefore help to reduce the risks of developing metabolic disorders.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02074423 (26/02/2014)

Effects of extrusion and supplementation of exogenous enzymes to diets containing Chinese storage brown rice on the carbohydrase activity in the digestive tract of piglets

Two experiments were conducted to study the effects of extrusion of Chinese storage brown rice and of exogenous enzymes supplementation to diets containing Chinese storage brown rice on the carbohydrase activity in digestive tract of piglets. In Experiment 1, 96 weaned piglets [initially 6.95 +/- 0.05 kg body weight (BW)] were used in a 2 x 2 factorial design, the animals were fed the diets containing extruded Chinese storage brown rice or non-treated Chinese storage brown rice and supplemented with or without exogenous enzymes. Each treatment had six replicate pens and four piglets in each pen. The results demonstrated that extrusion significantly increased (p < 0.05) the activity of duodenal maltase after 14 days of treatment and glucoamylase after 28 days of treatment, jejunal lactase, maltase, isomaltase, sucrase and alpha-amylase after 28 days of treatment, and jejunal alpha-amylase after 14 days of treatment; enzyme supplementation positively influenced (p < 0.05) the activity of pancreatic alpha-amylase after 14 and 28 days of treatment, pancreatic glucoamylase after 28 days of treatment and ileal trehalase after 14 days of treatment. Similarly, interaction between extrusion and enzyme addition existed after 14 days of treatment on the activity of pancreatic alpha-amylase and duodenal maltase and on the activity of duodenal glucoamylase and isomaltase, jejunal alpha-amylase, lactase, maltase, isomaltase and jejunal alpha-amylase after 28 days of treatment. In Experiment 2, six piglets (initially 21 +/- 1.85 kg BW) fitted with ileal 'T'-cannulas in a 6 x 6 Latin Square Design were used to study the effects of extrusion and addition of exogenous enzymes on ileal carbohydrase activity and nutrients digestibility. The results showed that exogenous enzymes significantly (p < 0.05) increased ileal alpha-amylase, glucoamylase and trehalase activity. The interaction between extrusion and enzyme supplementation had positive effect (p < 0.05) on the ileal lactase, cellobiase and sucrase activity.

Nutritional perfomance of Tupinambis merianae lizards fed with corn starch as source of energy

Efficiency in processing complex carbohydrates as a source of energy was studied in Tupinambis merianae lizards. Four isoproteic and isoenergetic diets in which different percentages of corn starch substituted fat (0, 10, 20 and 30 dry matter in the diet) were provided. Even though consumption was similar in all diets, growth and feeding conversion rates decreased significantly with corn starch supplies of 10% and more. At the end of the trial, pancreatic alpha-amylase activity showed correlated increases, yet these were insufficient to compensate corn starch supplies. Results suggest that Tupinambis merianae lizards have a restricted omnivorous capacity. Therefore, diet formulation for these lizards should exclude high molecular weight carbohydrates.

Antidiabetes and Antihypertension Potential of Commonly Consumed Carbohydrate Sweeteners UsingIn VitroModels

Commonly consumed carbohydrate sweeteners derived from sugar cane, palm, and corn (syrups) were investigated to determine their potential to inhibit key enzymes relevant to Type 2 diabetes and hypertension based on the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity using in vitro models. Among sugar cane derivatives, brown sugars showed higher antidiabetes potential than white sugars; nevertheless, no angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition was detected in both sugar classes. Brown sugar from Peru and Mauritius (dark muscovado) had the highest total phenolic content and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity, which correlated with a moderate inhibition of yeast alpha-glucosidase without showing a significant effect on porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase activity. In addition, chlorogenic acid quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography was detected in these sugars (128 +/- 6 and 144 +/- 2 microg/g of sample weight, respectively). Date sugar exhibited high alpha-glucosidase, alpha-amylase, and ACE inhibitory activities that correlated with high total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Neither phenolic compounds or antioxidant activity was detected in corn syrups, indicating that nonphenolic factors may be involved in their significant ability to inhibit alpha-glucosidase, alpha-amylase, and ACE. This study provides a strong biochemical rationale for further in vivo studies and useful information to make better dietary sweetener choices for Type 2 diabetes and hypertension management.

Pancreatic mass, cellularity, and α-amylase and trypsin activity in feedlot steers fed diets differing in crude protein concentration1,2

Twenty-four yearling beef steers (initial BW = 510 +/- 4.9 kg) predominantly of Angus breeding were used in a randomized complete block design to determine the effect of dietary CP concentration on pancreatic cellularity, mass, and alpha-amylase and trypsin activities. Treatment diets were formulated to contain 8.8, 11.0, 13.2, and 15.4% CP. Soybean meal and Top Soy (ruminal bypass soybean meal) were used as supplemental protein sources to ensure that MP intake was increased with increasing dietary CP concentrations. Steers were penned in groups of 4 (1 steer per treatment) and individually fed at 2.5x the NE(m) requirement by using Calan gates for 28 d before tissue collection. Four steers (1 pen) were slaughtered per week. Pancreases were weighed, subsampled, frozen in liquid N(2), and stored at -80 degrees C until analyses for DNA, RNA, and protein concentrations, and alpha-amylase and trypsin activities. Pancreatic weight (g and g/kg of BW) did not differ among treatment groups. Pancreatic DNA concentration (mg/g) decreased linearly (P = 0.06) with increasing CP concentration. Pancreatic protein (g/pancreas) increased linearly (P = 0.08) with increasing dietary CP concentration. Pancreatic alpha-amylase activity (U/g, U/mg of DNA, U/g of protein, U/pancreas, and U/kg of BW) increased linearly (P < or = 0.04) with increasing dietary CP concentration. Pancreatic trypsin activity (U/g, U/g of DNA, U/g of protein, U/pancreas, and U/kg of BW) increased linearly (P < or = 0.09) with increasing dietary CP concentration. Pancreatic alpha-amylase and trypsin activities (U/mg of RNA) responded quadratically (P < or = 0.09), with the greatest alpha-amylase activity observed in the 13.2% CP treatment. These data indicate that increasing dietary CP concentration decreases pancreatic cell numbers and also increases the concentration and content of pancreatic alpha-amylase and trypsin activities. Changes in cell number and size may be important factors regulating digestive enzyme production in the pancreas of cattle.

Pancreatic and intestinal enzyme activities in rats in response to balanced and unbalanced plant diets.

To simulate the effects of nutritionally adequate and inadequate vegetarian diets, rats were fed, for 28 days, an isonitrogenous, isocaloric, amino acid unbalanced cereal diet (CD) deficient in lysine and tryptophan or a balanced cereal-legume diet (CLD). The impact of these diets on enzymes responsible for digestion of proteins and carbohydrates were measured. Neither experimental diet significantly affected the animal's final weight or feed consumption in comparison with controls fed a standard mixed diet from plant and animal sources. However, during the first three weeks, the weight gain of rats fed the CD was significantly lower (p < 0.01; p < 0.05) than that of the controls. CD fed rats also had a higher feed efficiency ratio (p < 0.05), demonstrating increased feed consumption per unit of body weight. They also had decreased pancreatic alpha-amylase activity (p < 0.05), serum phytolytic and zoolytic alpha-amylase activity (p < 0.05) and serum protein level (p < 0.05) than the controls. Activity of pancreatic trypsin and intestinal enzymes (sucrase, maltase, aminopeptidase N) were the same as in the controls. In rats fed CLD, growth, food consumption, and enzyme activities did not change, however serum protein and glucose levels were higher (p < 0.025; p < 0.005) than in the controls. It is hypothesized that decrease in alpha-amylase activity was mostly related to the tryptophan deficiency in the CD because this enzyme contains the highest amount of tryptophan units among all tested enzymes.

Pancreatic exocrine damage induced by subcutaneous injection of a low dosage of zinc.

The aim of this study was to observe whether a low dosage of zinc induced mouse pancreatic injury. Dosages of zinc from 0.1 to 50 mg/kg were injected subcutaneously in mice, and plasma and pancreatic clinical parameters were observed 3-24 h after the injection. Plasma alpha-amylase activity increased 10 and 24 h after the injection of 25 or 50 mg/kg of zinc, whereas pancreatic alpha-amylase activity decreased 3 h after more than 5 mg/kg of zinc was injected. The activity recovered after 24 h except in the group injected with 50 mg/kg of zinc. The plasma glucose level did not change when less than 25 mg/kg of zinc was injected. The pancreatic zinc contents increased 3 h after more than 1 mg/kg of zinc was injected. The pancreatic metallothionein (MT) contents increased 6 h after the injection of 1 mg/kg of zinc. In addition, when more than 5 mg/kg of zinc was injected, the MT content increased at 3 h. In histochemical observations, cell damages such as fibrosis and necrosis were observed in pancreatic exocrine cells, but not in cells of Langerhans islets. From the present study, a single injection of a low dosage of zinc induces injury in pancreatic exocrine cells, but not endocrine cells.

Lectin-tannin interactions and their influence on pancreatic amylase activity and starch digestibility

Interactions of red kidney bean lectin and tannic acid and their individual and combined effects on the digestion of starch by pancreatic alpha-amylase were investigated. The interaction of tannic acid and lectin resulted in a loss in lectin hemagglutinating activity. Individually lectin and tannic acid could inhibit the activity of pancreatic alpha-amylase and thus reduce starch digestion. A combination of lectin and tannic acid had no significant inhibitory effect on the alpha-amylase, indicating that in combination their antinutritional effects toward this enzyme may become abolished. The effects of individual antinutrients may not always relate to the effects observed with consumption of a mixture of antinutrients as commonly encountered in foods.

Inhibitory effect of validamine, valienamine and valiolamine on activities of carbohydrases in rat small intestinal brush border membranes.

Three pseudo-aminosugars, validamine, valienamine and valiolamine, produced by Streptomyces hygroscopicus subsp. limoneus showed potent inhibitory action on rat small intestinal carbohydrase activities such as sucrase, maltase, glucoamylase, isomaltase and trehalase activities, but negligible action on lactase activity and pancreatic alpha-amylase activity. Where inhibition was seen, kinetic analysis showed fully competitive inhibition of the carbohydrase activities by all three inhibitors. Valiolamine has more potent carbohydrase inhibitory activity than validamine or valienamine, and the apparent Ki values of valiolamine for sucrase, maltase, glucoamylase, isomaltase and trehalase activities were 3.2 x 10(-7), 2.9 x 10(-6), 1.2 x 10(-6), 9.1 x 10(-7) and 4.9 x 10(-5) M, respectively, which are 10(-5) to 10(-3) times smaller than the apparent Km values.

Dietary interactions of lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus) trypsin inhibitor, haemagglutinin and cyanide. Part 2. Effect on pancreatic and intestinal alpha-amylase (EC 3.21.1.1) in growing albino rats.

A total of 108 growing albino rats was used to evaluate the dietary interactions of the major lima bean antinutritional factors trypsin inhibitor (TI), haemagglutinin (Hgg) and cyanide (CN) with respect to their effects on pancreatic and intestinal alpha-amylase activities. The results indicate that when fed at the same level of activity as found in the raw lima bean (RLB) these factors had no significant (p greater than 0.05) influence on pancreatic alpha-amylase activity whether acting individually or in combination. However, when acting alone, CN appeared to depress pancreatic amylase level more than when interacting with TI or Hgg or both. Amylase activity was significantly (p less than 0.01) depressed by the dietary treatments in both the small and large intestine while caecal levels were not. The most severe depression in amylase activity was elicited by the RLB diet. The haemagglutinin-containing diets appeared generally associated with lower levels of intestinal amylase activity. From the present finding it is suggested that these factors alone cannot fully account for the magnitude of the depression of intestinal amylase activity which is contingent upon the ingestion of RLB by experimental rats.

Intestinal liberation and resorption of monosaccharides from carbohydrates of different degrees of polymerization. I. Relation between intestinal hydrolysis of carbohydrates and resorption of monosaccharides

The study was designed to compare the intestinal absorption of monosaccharides from carbohydrates of different chain length. Furthermore, a correlation between the efficiency of hydrolysis of the polymers and the efficiency of the intestinal absorption was expected to be established. Glucose, the disaccharides maltose and sucrose and the polysaccharides maltodextrin DE 20 , maltodextrin DE 5 and starch were employed as substrates. The whole small intestines of anaesthetized rats were perfused in situ for 60 min with 0.5% solutions of these substrates in an open perfusion system. Initially 3-minute fractions of the perfusion medium, later 10-minute fractions were collected. The parameters determined were: secretion of pancreatic alpha-amylase activity, substrate hydrolysis (by alpha-amylase and by disaccharidases of the brush border membrane), intestinal absorption of the monosaccharides. alpha-amylase activity was significantly higher when the perfusion was carried out with starch solution. The possibility is discussed that this high-polymer substrate might stimulate the pancreas to an elevated alpha-amylase secretion. The highest rate of hydrolysis (45 mumol glucose/min) was determined from maltose as a substrate. The cleavage of the high-polymer substrates was less intensive. The hydrolysis of starch was limited by the capacity of the alpha-amylase, that of the sucrose by low activity of the saccharose. Absorption of glucose was more effective from the maltose solution than from the glucose solution. To understand this phenomenon, an additional "hydrolases-related transport system" could be taken into consideration. Glucose absorption from maltodextrin DE 20 was less effective than might have been expected from the rate of hydrolysis. This fact might possibly be explained by an inhibitory effect of oligosaccharides of chain length 4-10, contained in relatively high amounts in maltodextrin DE 20.

Effect of Decreased Feed Intake on Serum and Pancreatic α-Amylase of Broiler Chickens

Removal of feed from 20-day-old broiler chicks for 24 hours caused serum and pancreatic alpha-amylase activities to increase almost twofold. A 24-hour feeding period following feed removal caused a reduction in serum alpha-amylase to basal levels and a sixfold reduction in pancreatic alpha-amylase activity. Serum alpha-amylase levels remained elevated after long-term feed restriction in adult broilers compared with levels in full-fed controls. Reduction in feed intake in chicks caused by coccidial infections also resulted in increased serum alpha-amylase. In all cases, the degree of change in serum alpha-amylase corresponded inversely to feed intake. It is proposed that the pancreas synthesizes a specific quantity of alpha-amylase, which does not change even under conditions of extended underconsumption of feed. The rate of alpha-amylase secretion is determined, at least indirectly, by the rate of carbohydrate metabolism, and the remainder of the enzyme is stored in the pancreatic cells. A small percentage of the stored enzyme diffuses into the blood and thus directly reflects increased secretion or accumulation of alpha-amylase in the pancreas in response to conditions of carbohydrate utilization.

Net absorption of starch in low birth weight infants.

Twelve 3-day metabolic balance studies were carried out in 12 low birth weight infants fed an infant formula providing 3.5 g of corn starch per kilogram body weight per day. The mean coefficients of net absorption were 88 +/- 6% for starch, 70 +/- 14% for fat and 90 +/- 4% for nitrogen. No relationship was found between starch absorption and nitrogen or fat absorption. There was no relationship between starch absorption and the duration of starch feeding. It is concluded that the ability of young infants to digest large quantities of starch is most likely limited resulting from low pancreatic alpha-amylase activity. Nevertheless, from a practical point of view, small amounts of starch in infant formulas can be considered not only as a thickener but also as a source of calories.