Sambiloto (Andrographis paniculata Nees.) leaf extract activity as an α-Amylase enzyme inhibitor

Abstract

Introduction: Sambiloto (Andrographis paniculata) is an antidiabetic medicinal plant that acts by inhibiting the α-amylase enzyme. Andrographolide, the active compound of sambiloto leaf, is insoluble in water but dissolves in ethanol. Aim: This study compared the in vitro activity of aqueous extract and ethanolic extract of sambiloto leaf with the α-amylase enzyme. Methods: The inhibitory activity test of the α-amylase enzyme was carried out using the ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometric method by measuring the absorbance of the remaining starch, which forms a blue complex with iodine-iodide. Results: The inhibitory activity of the α-amylase enzyme of the aqueous extract of sambiloto leaf (with the IC50 value of 14.203 ± 0.112 mg/mL) was lower than that of the ethanol extract (with the IC50 value of 9.253 ± 0.116 mg/mL). The results of the statistical tests showed significant differences (p <0.05) between the inhibitory activity of the α-amylase enzyme acarbose and the activity of both extracts.