Inhibitory Activity of Cinnamon Bark Species and their Combination Effect with Acarbose against Intestinal alpha-glucosidase and Pancreatic alpha-amylase

Authors Adisakwattana, Sirichai; Lerdsuwankij, Orathai; Poputtachai, Ubonwan; Minipun, Aukkrapon; Suparpprom, Chaturong

Journal PLANT FOODS FOR HUMAN NUTRITION , JUN 2011,2:66

DOI 10.1007/s11130-011-0226-4 PubMed 21538147

Abstract Inhibition of alpha-glucosidase and pancreatic alpha-amylase is one of the therapeutic approaches for delaying carbohydrate digestion, resulting in reduced postprandial glucose. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical analysis and the inhibitory effect of various cinnamon bark species against intestinal alpha-glucosidase and pancreatic alpha-amylase. The results showed that the content of total phenolic, flavonoid, and condensed tannin ranged from 0.17 to 0.21 g gallic acid equivalent/g extract, from 48.85 to 65.52 mg quercetin equivalent/g extract, and from 0.12 to 0.15 g catechin equivalent/g extract, respectively. The HPLC fingerprints of each cinnamon species were established. Among cinnamon species, Thai cinnamon extract was the most potent inhibitor against the intestinal maltase with the IC50 values of 0.58 +/- 0.01 mg/ml. The findings also showed that Ceylon cinnamon was the most effective intestinal sucrase and pancreatic alpha-amylase inhibitor with the IC50 values of 0.42 +/- 0.02 and 1.23 +/- 0.02 mg/ml, respectively. In addition, cinnamon extracts produced additive inhibition against intestinal alpha-glucosidase and pancreatic alpha-amylase when combined with acarbose. These results suggest that cinnamon bark extracts may be potentially useful for the control of postprandial glucose in diabetic patients through inhibition of intestinal alpha-glucosidase and pancreatic alpha-amylase.