Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) shows anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects; however, its effect on postprandial blood glucose levels remains unknown. Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors regulate postprandial hyperglycemia by impeding carbohydrate digestion in the small intestine. Here, the effect of C3G on α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition and its ability to ameliorate postprandial hyperglycemia in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice were evaluated. ICR normal and STZ-induced diabetic mice were orally administered soluble starch alone or with C3G or acarbose. The half-maximal inhibitory concentrations of C3G for α-glucosidase and α-amylase were 13.72 and 7.5 μM, respectively, suggesting that C3G was more effective than acarbose. The increase in postprandial blood glucose levels was more significantly reduced in the C3G groups than in the control group for both diabetic and normal mice. The area under the curve for the diabetic mice was significantly reduced following C3G administration. C3G may be a potent α-glucosidase inhibitor and may delay dietary carbohydrate absorption.

This study was designed to investigate the inhibitory effect of Gynura procumbens extract against carbohydrate digesting enzymes and its ability to ameliorate postprandial hyperglycemia in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. G. procumbens extract showed prominent α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory effects. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of G. procumbens extract against α-glucosidase and α-amylase was 0.092±0.018 and 0.084±0.027 mg/mL, respectively, suggesting that the α-amylase inhibition activity of the G. procumbens extract was more effective than that of the positive control, acarbose (IC50=0.164 mg/mL). The increase in postprandial blood glucose levels was more significantly alleviated in the G. procumbens extract group than in the control group of STZ-induced diabetic mice. Moreover, the area under the curve significantly decreased with G. procumbens extract administration in STZ-induced diabetic mice. These results suggest that G. procumbens extract may help alleviate postprandial hyperglycemia by inhibiting carbohydrate digesting enzymes.

No abstract