IN-VITRO HYPOGLYCEMIC EFFECT OF FOENICULUM VULGARE MILL. SEEDS ON THE CARBOHYDRATE HYDROLYZING ENZYMES, α-AMYLASE AND α-GLUCOSIDASE

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by absolute or relative deficiency of insulin. Today, globally many therapeutic approaches are being innovated to decrease the postprandial glucose levels and adsorption through the inhibition of enzymes, α- amylase and α- glucosidase. Presently, these two enzymes offer for the maintenance of glucose levels in diabetic patients by hydrolyzing the carbohydrates ingested in the food. The aim of the present study was to screen the three different extracts, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and benzene of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. seeds for its in-vitro antidiabetic activity by α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition assay. The obtained results showed that all the three extracts had high alpha-glucosidase inhibitory affect than the alpha-amylase inhibition when compared with the standard acarbose values. The preliminary phytochemical analysis of all the extracts showed the presence of phenols, saponins, terpenoids, tannins and flavonoids in all extracts. These secondary metabolites can serve to maintain the glucose level in the blood and hence act as hypoglycemic agents.