Anti-diabetic and anti-obesity activity of Caralluma adscendens var. gracilis and Caralluma pauciflora

Abstract

Abstract The plants fractions of Caralluma adscendens var. gracilis and Caralluma pauciflora were evaluated for their total phenolic content in relation to their antioxidant activity and inhibitory effect of starch and lipids digestive enzymes. Among all fractions of C. adscendens var. gracilis and C. pauciflora, diethyl ether fractions showed highest phenolic content (36.23 ± 1.51 mg of GAE g− 1 DW, 28.21 ± 3.61 mg of GAE g− 1 DW), DPPH radical scavenging activity (27.96 ± 3.45 µg ml− 1 and 37.23 ± 0.92 µg ml− 1), inhibition of α-glucosidase (59.13 ± 1.31 µg ml− 1 and 73.03 ± 2.04 µg ml− 1), α-amylase (78.1 ± 3.47 µg ml− 1 110.5 ± 4.1µg ml− 1) and pancreatic lipase (41.91 ± 3.51 µg ml− 1 and 49.12 ± 3.89 µg ml− 1) compared to butanone and n-butanol fractions which showed little or no significant activities compared to standards. To the best of our knowledge, the present study provides the first evidence that these two plants (C. adscendens var. gracilis and C. pauciflora) are potent inhibitors of key enzymes in type 2 diabetes and obesity studies in vitro.