Revealing anti-diabetic potency of medicinal plants of Meru Betiri National Park, Jember – Indonesia

Eighteen extracts of six medicinal plants of Meru Betiri National Park (Jember, Indonesia) were studied for their anti-diabetic potency as well as their antioxidant activities (DPPH, superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical scavenging). Total phenolic and flavonoid content were also determined. Total phenols and flavonoid content increased with polarity order, from hexane, ethyl acetate to methanol extracts. Similar pattern resulted in antioxidant activity testing. Ethyl acetate extract of Antidesma bunius, methanol extract of Lagerstroemia speciosa and Lunasia amara possessed higher α-amilase inhibition compared to standard inhibitor, acarbose. Moreover, ethyl acetate extract of Antidesma bunius, methnaol extract of Arcangelisia flava, Lagerstroemia speciosa, Lunasia amara and hexane fraction of Merremia mamosa indicated higher α-glucosidase inhibition compared to standard anti-diabetic drug, acarbose. The extracts with higher phenolic and flavonoid content did not always showed higher inhibition activities α-amilase and α-glucosidase. Overall, the six medicinal plants exhibited potent sources for diabetic mellitus medication.