Comparative study of some seed spices for their anti- hyperglycemic and free radical scavenging activity

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus and free radical toxicity has encountered many lives and safer drugs to manage such etiologies have succeeded only for a short span and have counted more side effects. Spices are consumed with every meal in either form. Therefore, usage of spice/s as a functional food adjunct makes an appropriate choice to treat life style mediated disease. Hence, the present study includes in vitro evaluation of some seed spices for their anti- hyperglycemic and free radical scavenging activity. Among studied spices Myristica fragrans and Papaver somniferum were found to have promising values for both the activities whereas Trigonella foenum-graecum had higher inhibition values for alpha carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes but contrary it has comparatively low efficacy to quench free radicals.