Title:Inhibition of Key Digestive Enzymes Linked to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
by Piper betle L. Leaf Extracts to Manage Diabetes in an Alternative Way
Volume: 19
Issue: 6
Author(s): Tanveer Mahmud, Rezaul Hasan, Kamrul Islam and Md Jahangir Alam*
Affiliation:
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet 3114,
Bangladesh
Keywords:
α-amylase, α-glucosidase, Piper betle, enzyme inhibition, glucose, lowering activities.
Abstract:
Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder. The therapeutic approaches
for treating diabetes are to decrease the absorption of glucose through the inhibition of
carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes like α-amylase and α-glucosidase or to use medications for
lowering the blood glucose level.
Objective: The current study aimed to investigate the inhibitory potentials of the key digestive
enzymes, α-amylase and α-glucosidase, by betel leaf extracts and blood glucose lowering activities
using diabetic mice.
Methods: In vitro inhibitory potentials of the key enzymes linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus (viz.
α-amylase and α-glucosidase) by the betel leaf (Piper betle) extracts, including the study on the
mode of enzyme inhibition, were evaluated spectrophotometrically and in vivo blood glucose
lowering activities were assessed using alloxan-induced diabetic mice.
Results: Betel leaf extracts showed potential α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition activities
and blood glucose lowering activities. Among the extracts, young deshi betel leaf extract demonstrated
the highest α-amylase inhibition activity, while young khasia betel leaf extract exhibited
the lowest α-amylase inhibition activity. Young khasia betel leaf extract showed the maximum α-
glucosidase inhibition activity. However, the lowest α-glucosidase inhibition activity was found
with deshi betel leaf extracts. Betel leaf extract inhibited α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities
through competitive inhibition. In vivo study revealed that among the extracts, young deshi and
khasia leaf extract reduced blood glucose levels in all doses. Young deshi leaf extract exhibited
significant (p<0.05) antidiabetic activity to reduce blood glucose level ˂ 6.9 mmol/L at a lower
concentration.
Conclusion: This study would open a new window for the researcher to find new antidiabetic bioactive
compounds that would be cost-effective and without any adverse effects.
