In vitro alpha amylase inhibitory and antioxidant activity studies on the root of Chonemorpha fragrans (Moon) Alston

Abstract

Traditional therapy of diabetes includes the use of variety of plant derived products. Among these only a few alpha amylase inhibitors were explored. In this investigation, the in vitro alpha amylase inhibitory activity and the antioxidant potential of total ethanolic as well as petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and residual alcoholic fractions of the root of C. fragrans were studied. The chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts showed appreciable alpha amylase inhibitory activity and the IC₅₀ values were found to be 42.5 and 47.5 µg/ml respectively, where as the standard acarbose exhibited an IC₅₀ value of 25 µg/ml. The strong antioxidant properties were revealed with different models like DPPH, ABTS, Ferric reduction, nitric oxide and total antioxidant models.