Abstract

IN VITRO ALPHA GLUCOSIDASE INHIBITORY ACTIVITY OF MURRYA KOENIGII LEAVES: SEASONAL EFFECT

Tanaya Ghosh, Prasenjit Mitra and Prasanta Kumar Mitra*

ABSTRACT

Murrya koenigii Linn. Spreng Wettst (M. koenigii L.) is a medicinal plant being used in traditional medicine since long. Recently we have confirmed in vitro alpha glucosidase inhibitory activity of M. koenigii L. leaves. As biological activities of plants vary with season, aim of the present work was to see the seasonal effect on in vitro alpha glucosidase inhibitory activity of M. koenigii L. leaves. Leaves of M. koenigii L. were collected in summer, winter, autumn and rainy seasons from the local market and authenticated by the taxonomist. Leaves of different seasons were extracted separately with ethanol and concentrations of the extracts (10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 μg/ml) were checked for in vitro alpha glucosidase inhibitory activity by the standard method. Acarbose, a known alpha glucosidase inhibitor, was used as control. Results showed that M. koenigii L. leaves of rainy season (June – August) had maximum alpha glucosidase inhibitory activity. Result was comparable to that of acarbose. As alpha glucosidase inhibition is important to control post prandial blood glucose levels in Type – 2 diabetic patients, leaves of M. koenigii L. of rainy season may be used to keep post prandial blood glucose of the diabetic patients under control.

Keywords: Murrya koenigii L. leaves, alpha glucosidase inhibitory activity, seasonal variation, acarbose, diabetes.