IN VITRO α-AMYLASE AND α -GLUCOSIDASE INHIBITORY EFFECTS AND IN VIVO ANTI-DIABETIC EFFECTS OF THE HYDROALCOHOLIC SEED AND LEAF EXTRACTS OF POT CASSIA (CASSIA TORA)

Abstract

Owing to the lifestyle of many individual, diabetes mellitus (especially type 2 diabetes mellitus, T2DM) had been a global health challenge of economic importance over the years one of whose etiologies has been linked to the activities of carbohydrate degrading enzymes such as α-amylase and α-glucosidase. This work studied the in vitro inhibitory effects of seed and leaf extracts of Casia tora, (pot cassia) on α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes as well as its ability to lower blood glucose level in vivo. The latter was carried out using 24 healthy wistar rats grouped into 4 groups. Group I injected with the two separate extracts (seed and leaf) at 100mg/kg, Group II at 200mg/kg, Group II received metformin (standard drug) while Group IV received normal saline, serving as control. The effects were compared across the groups by measuring the blood glucose level using glucometer before and after each treatment. Both extracts from the plant showed higher lowering effects at 200mg/kg than 100mg/kg. Meanwhile, at 100mg/kg, higher lowering effects than metformin was observed. For the in vitro α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory effects at IC50 (Mg/ml), the test extracts also showed higher effect than metformin with the range 0.295mg/ml and 0.287mg/ml for the seed extract, 0.290mg/ml and 0.281mg/ml for leaf extract while for metformin, 0.27mg/ml and 0.286mg/ml against α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes respectively. Invariably, both the seed and leaf extracts of C. tora have a high inhibitory effect on these enzymes and administration of at least 200mg/kg of the extracts also has a high anti-diabetic effects. With further pharmacological studies on the actual chemotherapeutic index, the seed and leaf extracts of C. tora is highly recommended for the treatment (management) of hyperglycemia.