Objective: The objective of this study was to screen alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors from the different fractions of crude hydroalcoholic extract of heartwood of Tecomella undulata Linn.Methods: Four fractions of crude hydroalcoholic extract of heartwood of plant were used for in-vitro inhibitory assays against digestive enzymes: Alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase. For assay, different concentrations (20,40, 60, 80, and 100 µg/ml) were used for all fractions. A standard protocol was used for preliminary phytochemical screening of different bioactive components present in all fractions.
Results:The fractions have shown moderate to highest inhibitory activity against both enzymes. However, the strong inhibition was revealed by acetone fraction against alpha-amylase with very minimal inhibitory concentrations at inhibitory concentration 50% values when compared with a standard drug acarbose. Several medicinally active phytocomponents such as flavonoids, saponin, anthraquinones, tannins, triterpenoids, and phenols were observed in all studied fractions.
Conclusion:The different fractions prepared from crude hydroalcoholic extract of heartwood of plant are capable of inhibiting alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase, and it can be concluded that heartwood of T. undulata Linn. is partially active against postprandial hyperglycemia, thus diabetes mellitus.