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Pancreatic lipase and alpha-amylase inhibitory activities of plants used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Authors Buchholz, T.; Chen, C.; Zhang, X. Y.; Melzig, M. F.

Journal PHARMAZIE , JUL 2016,7:71

DOI 10.1691/ph.2016.6569 PubMed 29441920

Abstract To find new, plant based drugs for the treatment of obesity and/or diabetes mellitus type 2 through the inhibition of essential digestive enzymes, in vitro tests were carried out on selected plants or fungi with weight-reducing, blood glucose-reducing or related potential, used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Aqueous and methanolic extracts of 32 Chinese herbal medicines were assayed for their in vitro inhibitory activity against pancreatic lipase (PL) and alpha-amylase (PA). PL activity was measured by using an enzymatic in vitro assay based on the hydrolysis kinetics of an oleate ester of 4-methylumbelliferone. For the determination of alpha-amylase activity an enzyme assay based on the hydrolytic cleavage of a modified starch derivative was used. Our findings have shown that the methanolic extract of Lycopus lucidus Turcz. var. hirtus Regel (Lamiaceae) was a very effective PL inhibitor (IC50: 88.3 +/- 4.1 mu g/mL). A high anti-amylase activity showed the methanolic extract of Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. (Curcurbitaceae, IC50: 248.8 +/- 67.3 mu g/rnL). This work provides a priority list of interesting plants for further study with respect to the treatment of obesity and associated metabolic diseases.

Species covered 地笋 Lycopus lucidus 栝楼 Trichosanthes kirilowii