Effect of Cassia sieberiana DC (Fabaceae) on α-amylase and α-Glucosidase and Diabetes Treatment Trial in Rats

Background: Diabetes is a metabolic disease caused by a disturbance in the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism. It constitutes a public health problem whose major symptom is chronic hyperglycemia. The present study aims to assess the inhibitory effect of aqueous root extract of Cassia sieberiana (AECs) on two glycosidases, as well as its anti-diabetic potential in Wistar rats.

Study Design: Experimental Design.

Place and Duration of Study: Biology and Health Laboratory, Training and Research Unit Biosciences, Félix Houphouët-Boigny University of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, is the place where this study was carried out. The work was conducted from November 2022 to February 2023.

Methodology: The inhibitory effect of AECs on α-amylase and α-glucosidase was determined in vitro by measuring its ability to block the activity of these enzymes in the presence of their substrate. As for anti-diabetic activity, this was assessed in Wistar rats during experimental alloxane-induced diabetes. Diabetic rats were then treated with AECs at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg bw and glibenclamide at a dose of 10 mg/kg bw for three weeks.

Results: AECs exerts weak inhibitory effect on α-amylase activity (IC50 = 3.41x104 mg/mL) compared to its effect on α-glucosidase activity (IC50 =7.31x10-2 mg/mL). However, this inhibitory effect is lower than that of acarbose (IC50 = 3.13x10-4 mg/mL). In addition, treatment of diabetic rats reduced hyperglycemia by 38.75%, 55.48% and 63.55% in rats receiving AECs at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg bw and glibenclamide respectively. In addition, changes in lipid, hepatic and renal profiles, and weight loss in diabetic rats were corrected by this extract.

Conclusion: AECs inhibits α-glucosidase and α-amylase activity, but this effect is better with α-glucosidase. This extract is also able to reduce glycemia in diabetic rats and regulate certain parameters linked to complications associated with diabetes.