In vitro antioxidant and inhibitory potential of leaf extracts of Varthemia sericea against key enzymes linked to type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Diabetic disease is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by postprandial and fasting hyperglycemia. It is believed that inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes can be an important strategy in the administration of postprandial hyperglycemia linked to type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the a-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory and antioxidant of leaf extracts from Varthemia sericea (Batt. et Trab.) Diels. Methanol extract and its fractions, cold water and ethanol extracts of Varthemia sericea leaves were initially screened for phytochemical class, antioxidant properties and a-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Furthermore, all extracts of Varthemia sericea were found to be potent inhibitors of α-amylase with IC50 values range of 37.98±2.26 and 119.89±0.89 µg/ml. The methanol extracts of Varthemia sericea had both the strongest inhibitory effect against the α-amylase and the a-glucosidase with IC50 values of 55.63±1.51 and 113.33±1.59 µg/ml, respectively. Besides, all leaf extracts from Varthemia sericea showed a good antioxidant activity. Whereas, the observed effects were associated with the determination of phytochemical class such as alkaloids, coumarin, and tannins, etc. Overall, our findings suggest that extract from Varthemia sericea leaves may be useful for diabetic care.