Antioxidant, anti-alpha-glucosidase and pancreatic beta-cell protective effects of methanolic extract of Ensete superbum Cheesm seeds

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the antioxidant, anti-α-glucosidase and pancreatic β-cell protective potential of Ensete superbum (E. superbum) seeds. Methods: A variety of in vitro assays including radical scavenging, reducing power potential, phenolic content determination, α-glucosidase assay and pancreatic β-cell (1.4E7 cells) viability were employed for assessing the effect of methanolic extract of E. superbum seeds. Results: The radical scavenging and reducing power effects comparable with the standard rutin were obtained while the enzyme inhibitory activity of the extract was 68-fold better than the standard antidiabetic drug, acarbose. The seed extract of E. superbum was packed-full of polyphenols with mean percentage gallic acid equivalent value of (38.2 ± 1.8) (n = 3). The protection of pancreatic cells from massive onslaught of hydrogen peroxide was far superior to that obtained for rutin. Conclusions: The reputed antidiabetic therapeutic uses of the seeds extract of E. superbum may be justified on the basis of inhibition of carbohydrate enzymes, antioxidant effects and pancreatic β-cell protection.

Keywords

• Ensete superbum
• Musaceae
• Seeds
• Antioxidant
• Pancreatic beta-cell protection
• Alpha-glucosidase inhibition