INVESTIGATION OF STARCH-HYDROLYZING ENZYME INHIBITION AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF PEPEROMIA PELLUCIDA EXTRACT

Abstract

Peperomia pellucida has commonly used as a vegetable as well as a traditional medicine in Vietnam. Up to now, the scientific reports due to biological activities of P. pellucida are still limited. This study therefore investigated potential anti-diabetic and antioxidant activities of ethanol extract of P. pellucida. The anti-diabetic activity was investigated via examining inhibitory effect of P. pellucida extract on starch-hydrolyzing enzymes (alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase). Moreover, the antioxidant activity of this extract was investigated via scavenging free radicals including DPPH and ABTS+. The results showed that P. pellucida extract was able to inhibit alpha – amylase and alpha-glucosidase at IC50 values of (289 ± 7)µg/ml and (243 ± 14)µg/ml, respectively. On the other hand, P. pellucida extract was found to be effective in scavenging DPPH and ABTS+radicals at IC50 values of (144 ± 3)µg/ml and (131 ± 5)µg/ml. Accordingly, P. pellucida is considered as a potential material for development of health beneficial product with anti – diabetic and antioxidant effects.