Antioxidant, anti-α-glucosidase and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities of six plant species of the Malvaceae

Abstract

Malvaceae is a large family, including many medicinal plants. In this study, the roots, stems and leaves of six Malvaceae family plants include: Urena lobata L., Hibiscus Sabdariffa L., Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L., Abutilon indicum L., Sida acuta Burm.f, Sida rhombifolia L var. Parvifolia Gagn. were evaluated for antioxidant activity, α-glucosidase and acetylcholinesterase inhibitor activity, and phytochemical analysis. The results show that when comparing the parts, the roots are the most biologically active ones. However, in the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor activity, the leaves of Sida acuta Burm.f are more active than the parts. In the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and antioxidant activity, roots of Urena lobata L. were more active than the plants studied, with the IC50 value of α-glucosidase inhibitory activity is 4.79 μg/mL and IC50 of free radical scavenging assay DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) is 446 μg/mL. This result has contributed to demonstrate the biological activity of Malvaceae family and especcially of the ability to treat the type 2 diabetes of Urena lobata L. Results of phytochemical analysis show that all parts of the six plant species contain phenol, flavonoid and saponin steroids.