Abstract

EVALUATION OF ANTI DIABETIC ACTIVITY OF LEAVES OF PHOENIX SYLVESTRIS

Jeya Shanmuga Priya S.*, Vijaya Bharathi R. and Radha R.

ABSTRACT

Herbal medicines are promising choice over synthetic drugs. Phoenix sylvestris is a very graceful palm which is also known as Wild date palm, Silver date palm, date sugar palm and belongs to the family Arecaceae. The various parts of plant reported to possess diuretic, analgesic effect, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and neuropharmacological activities. Phoenix sylvestris is traditionally claimed to have antidiabetic, anti diarrheal, anti dysentery activity and used in treatment of toothache, menstrual complaint. In the present study, in vitro evaluation of antidiabetic activity of leaves extract in four different solvents such as Petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol and distilled water. An approach to prevent diabetes is to control the abnormal postprandial increase of blood glucose level. This can be achieved by the inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes like α-amylase and α-glycosidase. Evaluation of leaf extracts were carried out by α-amylase inhibitory assay and Non enzymatic glycosylation of haemoglobin method by using control. In these two methods, ethanolic extract possessed more antidiabetic activity than other extracts.

Keywords: Phoenix sylvestris, in vitro, ?-amylase, antidiabetic activity.