Investigating the antidiabetic potential of Phragmanthera capitata, a mistletoe harvested from rubber tree

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to investigate the antidiabetic potentials of Phragmanthera capitata, a mistletoe used in folklore for the management of diabetes in Africa. Extracts of the sample in acetone, methanol, ethanol, and water were screened for their potential inhibition of the digestive enzymes; α-amylase and α-glucosidase. The results showed a weak α-amylase inhibition across all the solvent extracts ranging from −2.66 ± 0.54% to 14.05 ± 0.24% and a stronger α-glucosidase inhibition ranging from 14.31 ± 0.69% to 94.05 ± 0.08%. Though the concentration that inhibited 50% α-amylase was not determined for all the solvent extracts, it ranged from 71.89 µg·mL⁻¹ in the acetone extract to 953.87 µg·mL⁻¹ in the aqueous extract in the α-glucosidase assay. The inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes may be one of the mechanisms of action whereby this plant exerted its antidiabetic activity.

KEYWORDS:

• Alpha-amylase
• alpha-glucosidase
• diabetes
• postprandial

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Govan Mbeki Research Development Centre (GMRDC) and Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria for supporting this work.