In vitro α-glucosidase inhibition by Brazilian medicinal plant extracts characterised by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry

Abstract

Aiming at finding natural sources of antidiabetics agents, 15 extracts from Brazilian medicinal plants ofthe Atlantic Forest and Amazon region were tested againsta-glucosidase enzyme. Plants were selectedbased on the taxonomic relationships with genera including several species with antidiabetic activity. Inthis screening, the extracts obtained from the flowers ofHyptis monticolaand the leaves ofLantana trifoliaand Lippia origanoidesresulted endowed with promising anti-a-glucosidase activity. The extracts fromH.monticolaand fromL. origanoidescollected in two different areas, were characterised by ultra-high per-formance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Bioassay-guided fractionation led to theidentification of several enzyme inhibiting compounds, among them the mechanism of action of naringe-nin and pinocembrin was investigated. The twoL. origanoidesextracts showed differences in bioactivityand in the phytochemical profiles. The fractionation of the extract fromH. monticolaled to a partial lossof the inhibitory effect.