The in-vitro antidiabetic activity of Phoenix roebelenii leaf extract

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate in-vitro α-amylase inhibitory activity, α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and glucose diffusion inhibition activity of various leaf extracts of Phoenix roebelenii. Materials and Methods: P. roebelenii leaf extracts were prepared by maceration in ethanol, methanol, water, acetone, and petroleum ether. The extracts were used for evaluating their α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity using dinitrosalicylic acid method. The results were compared with standard drug acarbose. Glucose diffusion was studied using dialysis membrane method. Results: The ethanolic extract showed maximum inhibitory activity for both α-amylase (75.5 ± 0.66%) and α-glucosidase (77.5 ± 1.07%) at 400 μg/ml in a concentration dependent manner. Methanolic extract showed nearly similar activity. Acarbose showed 80.7 ± 0.74% inhibition for α-amylase and 80.2 ± 0.23% for α-glucosidase at 400 μg/ml. The ethanolic and methanolic extracts also showed a significant amount of inhibition of glucose across a dialysis membrane. Conclusion: The plant can be further studied to isolate the compound(s) responsible for the antidiabetic properties.