In Vitro Hypoglycemic and Radical Scavenging Activities of Certain Medicinal Plants

The purpose of this study is to investigate in vitro hypoglycemic and free radical scavenging activities of some medicinal plants including Ficus glomerata (FG), Pandanus amaryllifolia (PaA), Artocarpus altilis (AA), Gomphrena celosioides (GC) and Gynostemma pentaphyllum (GP). Alpha-amylase inhibitory assay was examined by dinitrosalicylic acid reaction. Glucose uptake assay was investigated by LO-2 cell model. DPPH and ABTS⁺ scavenging assays were performed by spectrophotometry. Cell viability was determined by MTT method. It was found that the extracts including FG, PaA, AA, GC and GP were able to inhibit alphaamylase activity up to 38.4 ± 4.2%, 47.8 ± 4.3%, 49.3 ± 3.5%, 40.1 ± 4.4% and 38.5 ± 3.8%, respectively. Moreover, glucose adsorption and glucose uptake capacity of these extracts were evidenced. In addition, free radical scavenging activity of these extracts was indicated in a range of 30.6-54.5% for DPPH radical and 31.8-51.1% for ABTS⁺ radical. Especially, these extracts exhibited no cytotoxicity effect on human hepatic LO-2 cells and human gastric BGC-823 cells at the concentration of 100 μg/ml. The results indicated that A. altilis leaves were effective in inhibiting alpha-amylase activity, increasing glucose adsorption and glucose uptake and scavenging free radicals. Therefore, it could be suggested to be a promising hypoglycemic agent for managing type 2 diabetes.