Inhibitory effect of dates-extract on α-Amylase and β-glucosidase enzymes relevant to non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

α-Amylase and α-glucosidase are key enzymes involved incarbohydrates breakdown and intestinal absorption, respectively.Inhibition of these enzymes hinders blood glucose level increaseafter a carbohydrate diet and can be an important strategy in themanagement of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).A main drawback of currently used inhibitors is their side effectssuch as abdominal distention, flatulence, meteorism and diarrhea,caused by excessive inhibition of pancreatic α-amylase resulting inabnormal bacterial fermentation of undigested carbohydrates in thecolon. Natural inhibitors from plants have shown lower inhibitoryeffect against α-amylase activity and a stronger inhibitory activityagainst α-glucosidase and can be used as effective therapy forNIDDM with minimal side effects. In this work dates-extract (DE)inhibitory effect on α-amylase and α-glucosidase has been assessed.The inhibition percentages on α-amylase and α-glucosidase were inthe range of 6-24% and 54%, respectively. The results clearly showthe NIDDM treatment potential of DE.