Alpha-amylase inhibitory activity of extracts from Algerian Calamintha nepeta (L.)

What is it about?

Calamintha nepeta is a plant from the Lamiaceae family which is known for its traditional use to treat diabetes in Algerian populations. Until now there have been no research work to confirm this activity. Objectives : This work aims to evaluate the antiamylatic activity of essential oil, methanolic and aqueous extracts from Algerian Calamintha nepeta (L.). The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed using GC and GC/MS. Aqueous and methanolic extracts were obtained from the remainings of the hydrodistillation. Total phenolic compounds were quantified using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. While the antiamylatic activity was evaluated by testing the ability of the different extracts to inhibit α-amylase. Extraction yield was 0.67 %(w/w) for the essential oil, and 11.85 and 4.38 %(w/w) for the aqueous and methanolic extracts respectively. The essential oil analysis revealed that menthone, menthol, pulegone and pulegone oxide were the main components. Total phenolic compounds for the aqueous and methanolic extracts were respectively 41.81 and 32.92 mg GAE/g. The different extracts showed inhibition activity towards α-amylase with IC50 values equal to : 24.46 ; 31.54 and 115.47mg/ml for the methanolic extract, the essential oil and the aqueous extract respectively. The different extracts of Calamintha nepeta showed an interesting composition, and a significant antimaylatic activity.

Featured Image