The activity of -amylase and -glucosidase as anti-diabetic function

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: We investigated total 26 ingredients of Saengshik which will be commercially produced as an anti-diabetic dietary supplement. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Thirteen vegetables, nine cereals, three legumes and one seed were extracted with aqueous ethanol for 2 h at $60^{\circ}C$, and evaluated for their inhibitory effects against ${\alpha}$-amylase and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and for total phenolic and flavonoid contents. RESULTS: All ingredients inhibited ${\alpha}$-amylase activity except cabbage. Strong inhibitory activity of ${\alpha}$-amylase was observed in leek, black rice, angelica and barley compared with acarbose as a positive control. Stronger inhibition of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity was found in small water dropwort, radish leaves, sorghum and cabbage than acarbose. All Saengshik ingredients suppressed ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity in the range of 0.3-60.5%. Most ingredients contained total phenols which were in the range of 1.2-229.4 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dried extract. But, total phenolic contents were not observed in carrot, pumpkin and radish. All ingredients contained flavonoid in the range of 11.6-380.7 mg catechin equivalent/g dried extract. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that Saengshik containing these ingredients would be an effective dietary supplement for diabetes.