α-Glucosidase and glycation inhibitory activities of Rumex lunaria leaf extract: a promising plant against hyperglycaemia-related damage

Abstract

Rumex lunaria L. is a Canarian medicinal plant, belonging to Polygonaceae. The potential antidiabetic activity of the methanolic extract of the leaves was investigated. For this purpose, the inhibition of α-glucosidase and albumin glycation by the extract was studied. Further, the anti-radical activity and the phytochemical composition were detected. The reduction of α-glucosidase activity was significant from 3 µg/mL, while the BSA glycation inhibition started from 100 µg/mL. Moreover, the extract exhibited a significant free-radical scavenger activity. Its phytochemical characterization showed the presence of carotenoids, phenolic and flavonoid compounds, whereas anthraquinones were not detected. C-flavonoid glycosides were identified and quercetin-O-hexoside-O-deoxyhexoside was the most detected (22.67 ± 0.02 mg/g). The findings indicate that the methanolic R. lunaria leaf extract has significant anti-α-glucosidase, anti-radical and anti-glycation activities. This research is the first showing the potential antidiabetic activity of R. lunaria.

Keywords:

• AGEs
• α-glucosidase
• BSA assay
• ORAC assay
• ROS
• glycosides

Disclosure statement

No conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Padova (DOR 2017). DLG is grateful to the Traineeship Erasmus+.