Inhibitory effect of Amomum villosum water extracts on α-glucosidase activity

The periodic rise and frequency of diabetes mellitus (DM) have pressured into the quest for other possible anti-diabetic remedies from medicinal plants. The foremost strategies engaged in the lessening of gastrointestinal glucose levels by the hindrance of carbohydrate digesting enzyme prominently as alpha-glucosidase. Acarbose, currently used as an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, is a useful treatment option for the management of hyperglycemia in type-2 diabetes. However, acarbose has been associated with various adverse effects due to its inhibitory action on alpha-amylase. In this experiment, we investigated the dried fruits of Amomum villosum Lomb or Amomum fruits on in vitro rat intestinal alpha-glucosidase, porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase, alpha-glucose oxidase (Maltase, Sucrase, Glucoamylase) inhibition assays and in vivo sucrose and amylose loading test in rat model. AVE at concentrations of 1, 3, and 5 mg/mL displayed an significant inhibition against sucrase activity at 39.01 +/- 5.96%, 53.68 +/- 2.21% and 93.21 +/- 3.78%, respectively, similar to the inhibitory effects of acarbose. AVE at concentrations of 1, 3, and 5 mg/mL also stated an inhibitory effect against maltase at 32.87 +/- 1.86%, 34.62 +/- 6.06% and 58.36 +/- 1.30, respectively. alpha-Glucosidase activity was significantly reduced by Amomum villosum water extract (AVE). AVE at concentrations of 1, 3, and 5 mg/mL revealed a concentration based inhibitory effect against rat alpha-glucosidase of 31.99 +/- 6.79%, 48.85 +/- 4.75%, and 62.58 +/- 6.69%, respectively. However, the effect remained lower than reference drug acarbose. Additionally, AVE showed significantly lower alpha-amylase inhibitory effect than acarbose. The results acquired from this experiment proposes the possible use of AVE as another natural foundation for the type-2 diabetes mellitus treatment with lesser side effects.

Automated summary

The study indicates that the plant extract of Amomum villosum Lomb or Indian cardamom dried fruits has significant inhibitory effects on the activity of alpha-glucosidase, making it a potential natural treatment option for type-2 diabetes with fewer side effects than acarbose.