IN-VITRO ALPHA-AMYLASE AND ALPHA-GLUCOSIDASE INHIBITORY ACTIVITIES OF POLYHERBAL FORMULATION

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease identified as hyperglycemia that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot metabolize its insulin. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. Hyperglycemia, or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and, over time, leads to serious damage to many of the body’s systems. Alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors are used to achieve greater control over hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus. In the present study, the methanolic extract of leaves of Azadirachta indica, Murraya koenigii and Psidium guajava were prepared by maceration. The methanolic extracts of leaves of Azadirachta indica, Murraya koenigii and Psidium guajava were mixed in equal proportions to form a polyherbal extract and studied for in–vitro alpha (α)-amylase and alpha (α)-glucosidase inhibitory activities. In alpha-amylase activity, alpha-amylase solution (0.5 mg/mL) and substrate, 1% starch was used and the absorbance was measured at 540nm. In Alpha-glucosidase activity, alpha-glucosidase (0.5 mg/mL) and substrate, 5 mM p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside was used and the absorbance was recorded at 405 nm. Different concentrations of the polyherbal formulation were assessed for alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activities with an IC₅₀ value 5.2 µg/ml and 5.98 µg/ml extract, respectively, and were well comparable with the standard drug, acarbose. The polyherbal formulation exhibited significant alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activities in dose-dependent manner and was comparable to that of standard drug, acarbose.