Purpose: To evaluate α-glucosidase and α-chymotrypsin enzyme inhibitory activity of
Jatropha gossypifolia
as a probable remedy for the management of diabetes and ulcer.
Methods: Different extracts and fractions of the root, leaf and stem bark of the plant were screened for
their α-glucosidase and α-chymotrypsin inhibitory activity using standard in vitro inhibition assays.
Acarbose and chymostatin were used as positive control, respectively.
Results: n-Butanol and ethyl acetate fraction showed maximum enzyme inhibition for α-glucosidase
with 67.93 ± 0.66 and 67.67 ± 0.71 % and half maximal concentration (IC
50) of 218.47 ± 0.23 and
213.45 ± 0.12 μg/ml, respectively. Dichloromethane and ethyl acetate leaf fractions exhibited maximum
α-chymotrypsin inhibition activity of 85.08 ± 0.38 and 83.87 ± 0.70 %, and IC
50 of 133.1 ± 0.68 and
134.5 ± 0.12 μg/ml, respectively, Acarbose exhibited enzyme inhibition activity of 92.14 ± 0.38 % with
IC
50 of 38.24 ± 0.1 μg/ml, while chymostatin exhibited 93.67 ± 0.38 % enzyme inhibition and IC
50 of 8.24
± 0.11 μg/ml.
Conclusion: The presence of bioactive secondary metabolities with enzyme-inhibiting activity lends
some support for the traditional use of this plant in the management of diabetes and ulcer. However,
further investigation of the plant including identification of its active components is required.