Inhibitory Effect of Mammea africana on Alpha-Amylase and Alpha-Glucosidase Enzymes of Rats

Abstract

Mammea africana Sabine (Guttiferae), a medicinal plant used traditionally in the treatment of diseases including diabetes was evaluated for effect on alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes in vivo. The stembark extract (30, 60 and 90 mg/kg) of M. africana were investigated in vivo for inhibitory effect on alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes using starch, sucrose and maltose as substrates. Acarbose was used as reference drug. The stembark extract caused significant (p<0.05) reduction in blood glucose levels of treated rats with the various substrates used. The results suggest that the stembark extract of M. africana have the potentials to inhibit alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase in rats.

Genotoxicity and Cytotoxicity Activities of Stembark Extract of Mammea africana

“…Ouahouo et al, [6] reported "cytotoxic coumarins with anti-microbial activity against Staphylococcus aureus from the plant stembark". Additionally, anti-plasmodial [7], cardioprotective [8], anti-diabetic, hypolipidaemic [9,10], vasorelaxant [11] (Dongmo et al,2007), anti-hypertensive [12], anti inflammatory, analgesic [13], antioxidant [14], anti-diarrheal, anti-ulcer [15], immunomodulatory, antilesihmanial [5], depressant and anti-convulsant [16] as well as nephroprotective [17] and hepatoprotective [18],in vivo alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase inhibitory [19] activities. The stembark has been reported to have 5,-7dihydroxy-8-(12-methyl-butryl) -4 -Npentylcoumarins and mesuxanthone B [20][21][22], 4-phenyl and 4-alkylcoumarins [23].…”