Aqueous extract of Tamarindus indica fruit pulp exhibits antihyperglycaemic activity

Document Type : Short communication

Authors

1 Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Tamil Nadu, India

2 Dept.of Pharmacology, Saveetha Dental College, SIMATS,Chennai,India

Abstract

Objective: Tamarindus indica Linn.(T.indica) is a well-known plant used in traditional medicine. The plant is popular for its antidiabetic activity. However, effect so f its aqueous fruit pulp extract on carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes and its glucose uptake potential were not explored.
Materials and Methods: The antidiabetic activity was assessed by in-vitro α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory assays after preliminary phytochemical analysis. MTT assay was carried out to find cytotoxicity. Glucose uptake activity of the extract was carried out using L6 myotubes.
Results:The results showed a strong α-amylase inhibitory activity for the fruit pulp extract of T.indica compared to standard acarbose; the IC50 of the fruit pulp extract of T.indica and acarbose was 34.19 µg/ml 34.83µM. The extract also showed moderate α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. IC50 of the fruit pulp extract of T.indica and acarbose were 56.91µg/ml and 45.69µM respectively. The cytotoxicity assay showed IC50 of >300µg/ml and ≥1000µM for the fruit pulp extract of T.indica     and metformin. The extract showed 63.99±0.08% glucose uptake in L6 myotubes whereas metformin and insulin at  10µg/ml and 10µM exhibited an uptake of 76.99±0.3% and 84.48±0.45% glucose, respectively.
Conclusion: The study revealed that the fruit pulp extract of T.indica Linn does not show any cytotoxic effect and has very good α-amylase and good α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. The glucose uptake potential proves its postprandial hypoglycemic effect. Hence, it may be considered an antidiabetic agent for control of postprandial hyperglycemia.

Keywords

Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine
Volume 10, Issue 5
September and October 2020
Pages 440-447

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