Α-amylase inhibitory potential of Balanites roxburghiana Linn. fruit extracts: A comparative solvent-based study

Abstract

The global prevalence of diabetes mellitus necessitates the exploration of novel therapeutic interventions with minimal adverse effects. This research evaluates the enzyme inhibitory properties of Balanites roxburghiana fruit extracts against ?-amylase using three different solvents (n-hexane, dichloromethane, and methanol) through chromogenic DNSA methodology. The investigation revealed remarkable variance in bioactivity among solvent extracts. n-hexane extract exhibited exceptional inhibitory capacity, demonstrating concentration-responsive effects with maximum inhibition of 90.10% at 500 ?g/mL, followed by 62.03% and 51.52% at 250 and 100 ?g/mL respectively. Dichloromethane extract showed limited bioactivity (4.86-7.29%), while methanol extract unexpectedly enhanced enzymatic activity. Acarbose served as reference standard with complete inhibition across all concentrations. Phytochemical evaluation identified steroids and saponins as predominant compounds in the active n-hexane fraction. These outcomes establish the therapeutic significance of lipophilic constituents in B. roxburghiana fruits for managing postprandial hyperglycemia.