Antioxidant and Enzymes Inhibitory Activities of Leaf Extracts of Plant Species Traditionally Used for Medicinal and Spiritual Purposes in Nepal

ABSTRACT

The flavonoids and phenolics contents, antioxidant potential, and enzymes (α-amylase, lipase, elastase, tyrosinase, acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase) inhibition potential of leaf extracts from Elaeocarpus sphaericus, Santalum album, Pterocarpus santalinus, and Ziziphus budhensis collected from Ramechhap District of Nepal were evaluated. DPPH assay was used to determine the antioxidant potential, and the DNSA method was used to examine α-amylase inhibition activity. P-NPB, L-DOPA, AAAPVN, acetylthiocholine iodide, and butyrylthiocholine iodide were used as respective substrates for the determination of lipase, tyrosinase, elastase, acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase inhibition activities. The crude extract of P. santalinus showed inhibitory potential against all enzymes, whereas E. sphaericus, S. album, and Z. budhensis extracts showed moderate inhibition activity. However, S. album did not inhibit lipase, elastase, and tyrosinase.

KEYWORDS:

• Enzyme inhibition
• phenolics
• flavonoids

Acknowledgments

The authors like to thank Pradhan Divya Ayurvedic Jadi Buti Udyog Pvt. Ltd., Khandadevi Rural Municipality, Ramechhap, Nepal, for providing the plant materials. We are grateful to the National Herbarium and Plant Laboratory, Godhawari, Lalitpur, Nepal, for plant identification and authorization.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Authors’ Contribution

SPP and BPP conceptualized the work and did preliminary works. SPP, KA, and PJ did laboratory analysis, data generation, analysis, and verification. SPP, PJ, and BPP wrote, revised, and edited the manuscript. SPP and BPP contributed equally to this work.