Phytochemical screening and in vitro evaluation of alpha amylase, alpha glucosidase and beta galactosidase inhibition by aqueous and organic Atractylis gummifera L. extracts

Abstract

Diabetes is a chronic condition which is increasingly progressing throughout the world. To treat it, several methods are used, among which is medicinal plants that still have an unknown mechanism of action. The objective of this work is to evaluate the in vitro hypoglycemic effect of the extracts of the underground part of Atractylis gummifera, a member of Asteraceae used in traditional Moroccan medicine. A phytochemical study of the aqueous extracts (decocted, infused and macerated) and organic extracts (methanol, methanol macerate, chloroformic, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether), and a phytochemical screening of the different secondary metabolites was done. The antidiabetic power of the extracts of A. gummifera by testing the inhibitory activity of α-amylase, α-glucosidase and β-galactosidase, which are enzymes responsible for the digestion of polysaccharides was determined. The extracts of A. gummifera are very rich in flavonoids and tannins, and are inhibitory toα-amylase and α-glucosidase, mainly the macerate of methanol with IC50 values of 0.557 ± 0.013 and 0.743 ± 0.017 mg / mL respectively. Higher β-galactosidase inhibitory potential than quercetin was observed for aqueous macerates and methanol with IC50 values of 2.23 ± 0.012 and 2.443 ± 0.071 mg / mL respectively. The extracts of A. gummifera possess a significant inhibitory activity of the alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase and beta-galactosidase enzymes, in particular the macerate of methanol followed by the aqueous macerate, among the eight extracts tested.

In vivo anti-diabetic effect of aqueous and methanolic macerated extracts of Atractylis gummifera

“…Also, results showed that aqueous macerated of A. gummifera can significantly (p<0.05) reduce blood glucose in diabetic mice, which it's presumably due to reducing the damage of streptozotocin to pancreatic β-cells and enhancing the secretion of insulin (Wang et al, 2018). Also this decrease in blood sugar can be attributed to the richness of this extract in phenolic compounds (polyphenols and flavonoids) and in tannins (Bouabid et al, 2018) which are known for their ability to increase insulin sensitivity by the users' organs (liver, adipose tissue, muscle) and/ or inhibit the polysaccharide degradation process Asgharpour et al, 2013).…”

“…Besides, this extract has a very important role in inhibiting the enzymes responsible for the degradation of polysaccharides that has been demonstrated in vitro (Bouabid et al, 2018). Indeed, phytochemical screening revealed that the aqueous macerate of A. gummifera is an extract that contains tannins and flavonoids (Bouabid et al, 2018). Hence, molecular synergy has a beneficial effect in this case, which explains the action of this extract on several biochemical parameters and the restoration of their values back to normal.…”

“…Therefore, the aqueous macerate of A. gummifera may well be a promising source of an oral anti-diabetic that would restore the level of glucose in the blood to normal, prevent the complications of diabetes and reduce insulin resistance. Besides, this extract has a very important role in inhibiting the enzymes responsible for the degradation of polysaccharides that has been demonstrated in vitro (Bouabid et al, 2018). Indeed, phytochemical screening revealed that the aqueous macerate of A. gummifera is an extract that contains tannins and flavonoids (Bouabid et al, 2018).…”

“…Two extracts were prepared by maceration and based on the results of the in vitro study (Bouabid et al, 2018). The aqueous/methanol macerate was prepared by dissolving the plant material composed of the underground part of the A. gummifera in cold water/methanol for 24 hours.…”

“…In vivo anti-diabetic effect of aqueous and methanolic macerated extracts of Atractylis gummifera we tested in vitro the hypoglycemic effect of eight aqueous and organic extracts of this plant by inhibiting α-amylase, α-glucosidase and β-galactosidase, the enzymes responsible for the digestion of polysaccharides and therefore for increasing blood glucose levels. Thus, we have selected two extracts that have proved to be the most active and which are aqueous and methanolic macerates (Bouabid et al, 2018). This in vitro activity has bio-guided us in this study, the objective is to evaluate in vivo the hypoglycemic effect of A. gummifera in diabetic mice.…”