In vitro Antidiabetic Activity of Seven Medicinal Plants Naturally Growing in Turkey

Objective: Diabetes mellitus is a worldwide metabolic/endocrine disease that causes major medical problems. One of the most important strategies used in the therapy of the diabetes mellitus is the use of inhibition of [alpha]-glucosidase and [alpha]-amylase enzymes. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate antidiabetic activities of the hexane and methanol extracts of the medicinal plants from Turkey. Materials and Methods: The hexane and methanol extracts of Euphorbia helioscopia, Ferula elaeochytris, Sideritis albiflora, Sideritis stricta, Sideritis pisidica, Sideritis leptoclada, Salvia chionantha plants were prepared at room temperature. Antidiabetic activities of the extracts on [alpha]-glucosidase and [alpha]-amylase enzymes were determined. Results: S. pisidica hexane extract exhibited higher [alpha]-amylase inhibitory activity than acarbose (96.60[+ or -]0.08 %) used as a standard with an inhibition value of 97.99[+ or -]0.79 % at 1000 [micro]g/mL concentration. In terms of [alpha]-glucosidase inhibitory activities, the extracts were ranked in the following order: F. elaeochytris hexane extract > S. leptoclada hexane extract > S. stricta hexane extract > E. helioscopia hexane extract. Conclusion: In this study, antidiabetic activities of the extracts on [alpha]-glucosidase and [alpha]-amylase enzymes of the studied medicinal plants were screened for the first time. It has been suggested that S. pisidica hexane extract can be used as antidiabetic agent. Keywords: Medicinal plants, antidiabetic activity, extracts, [alpha]-amylase, [alpha]-glucosidase