a-Amylase Inhibitory Activities of Six Salvia Species

α-Amylase inhibitory activities of ethanol extracts from six selected Iranian Salvia species (S. hydrangea DC., S. hypoleuca Benth., S. officinalis L., S. reuterana Boiss., S. verticillata L. and S. virgata Jacq.) were examined, using in vitro model. In addition, antioxidant capacities (DPPH radical scavenging) and total flavonoid cotents of the extracts were also determined. The results showed that the extracts of S. verticillata and S. virgata, significantly and concentration dependently, inhibited α-amylase activity. All the extracts exhibited antioxidant activities, among which S. verticillata, S. virgata, S. officinalis, S. hypoleuca and S. hydrangea were found to be the most active in terms of assay. S. hypoleuca and S. reuterana extracts had the highest total flavonoid contents. However, a favorable correlation was not found between α-amylase inhibitory effects or antioxidant activities and the total flavonoid contents of the extracts.