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 α-glucosidase. Acarbose, currently used as an α-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 α-amylase. In this experiment, we investigated the dried fruits of Amomum villosum LOUR, or Amomum fruits on in vitro rat intestinal α-glucosidase, porcine pancreatic α-amylase, α-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. α-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 α-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 α-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. •First study to search the α-glucosidase inhibitory effect of the Amomum villosum water extract (AVE).•AVE significantly inhibited α-glucosidase activity.•AVE also showed sucrase, maltase, glucoamylase inhibitory activities.•AVE showed significantly lower α-amylase inhibitory effect than acarbose.