In vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic activites of Gluta torquata

Rengas (Gluta torquata) wood is as potential source of antioxidants and a-amylase and a-glucosidase inhibitory activities. This is the first report of the inhibitory effects on a-amylase and a-glucosidase tested in vitro. The ability of Rengas wood compounds delay the breakdown of carbohydrates potentially helping to control postprandial hyperglycaemia. The antioxidant properties of the leaf, bark, and wood methanolic extracts were analyzed by the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2'-azinobis(2-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical and 2,2-dipheny1-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays. The wood extract exhibited highest antioxidant activities and enzymes inhibitions. Subsequently, the Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) analysis revealed the presence of the caffeic acid, quercetin and sulfuretin in the wood extract samples. The analyses of the antioxidant, antihyperglycemic properties and the phenolic compounds found in this study revealed great potential of rengas wood extracts that may be potentially useful in pharmaceutical industries. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.