In vitro Antidiabetic Activity of Seven Medicinal Plants Naturally Growing in Turkey

Abstract

Objective: Diabetes mellitus is a worldwide metabolic/endocrine disease that causes major medical problems. One of themost important strategies used in the therapy of the diabetes mellitus is the use of inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylaseenzymes. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate antidiabetic activities of the hexane and methanol extracts of themedicinal plants from Turkey.Materials and Methods: The hexane and methanol extracts of Euphorbia helioscopia, Ferula elaeochytris, Sideritis albiflora,Sideritis stricta, Sideritis pisidica, Sideritis leptoclada, Salvia chionantha plants were prepared at room temperature. Antidiabeticactivities of the extracts on α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzymes were determined.Results: S. pisidica hexane extract exhibited higher α-amylase inhibitory activity than acarbose (96.60±0.08 %) used as astandard with an inhibition value of 97.99±0.79 % at 1000 µg/mL concentration. In terms of α-glucosidase inhibitory activities,the extracts were ranked in the following order: F. elaeochytris hexane extract > S. leptoclada hexane extract > S. stricta hexaneextract > E. helioscopia hexane extract.Conclusion: In this study, antidiabetic activities of the extracts on α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzymes of the studiedmedicinal plants were screened for the first time. It has been suggested that S. pisidica hexane extract can be used asantidiabetic agent.