In vitro alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activities of fruits of ficus auriculata lour.

Abstract

The present study was aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition and in-vitro substantiation of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes inhibitory activity of the fruits of Ficus auriculata Lour. The fruits were first extracted with methanol:water (4:1) and the extract obtained was fractionated using n-butanol (BuOH), ethylacetate (EtOAc), methanol (MeOH) and water (Aqueous). All the four fractions were phytochemically screened for presence of various phytochemical groups. Different concentrations (50-500 mg/mL) of fractions were subjected to α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory assay and percentage inhibition as well as IC₅₀ values were calculated. Phytochemical screening indicated highest number of different phytochemicals in the methanol fraction followed by EtOAc and aqueous fractions. All fractions exhibited inhibitory action against α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes in a concentration dependant manner. The BuOH, EtOAc, MeOH and aqueous fractions recorded 58.39, 78.98, 91.45, and 75.25 % inhibitory activities against α-amylase and 66.37, 84.66, 97.75, and 79.55 % against α-glucosidase at a concentration of 500 μg/mL, which is the highest among all tested doses. Among all, methanol fraction recorded the maximum α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ value of 161.73±0.43 and 103.43±0.67 respectively comparable with that of acarbose (155.08±1.75 and 95.63±1.71 mg/mL). The results have evidently shown F. auriculata fruits as potent α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitor. The enzyme inhibitory potentiality of the specific fraction of F. auriculata fruits could be beneficially exploited in the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). However, characterization of specific phytoconstituents responsible for the activity as well as in vivo studies is needed for further confirmation.