Characterization of ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of Commiphora myrrha and evaluating in vitro anti-diabetic and anti-obesity activities

Diabetes mellitus is a clinical disease categorized by hyperglycemia. Reduction of gastrointestinal glucose absorptionthrough the inhibition of carbohydrate digesting enzymes is one of in vitro anti-diabetic therapeutic approach. Thisinvestigation aimed to estimate the in vitro anti-diabetic and anti-obesity activities for ethyl acetate and methanolextracts of Commiphora myrrha oleo-gum as well as the identification of the bioactive compounds. Commiphoramyrrha was extracted with methanol and ethyl acetate. The two extracts were used to evaluate their α-glucosidase,α-amylase, and pancreatic lipase inhibitory activities. Identification of the bioactive compounds of ethyl acetate wasanalyzed by GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). The results showed that the ethyl acetate extract hada stronger inhibition activity on α-amylase (IC50 = 54.60 µg/ml) and α-glucosidase (IC50 = 58.7 µg/ml) than methanolextract on α-amylase (IC50 = 124.01 µg/ml) and α-glucosidase (IC50 = 191.2 µg/ml). Also, ethyl acetate extract hada promising inhibitory effect on pancreatic lipase (IC50 = 107.8 µg/ml) than methanol extract (IC50 = 498.1 µg/ml).GC-MS analysis of ethyl acetate extract identified 31 compounds. Among them nobiletin (50.26%), metaproterenol(orciprenaline) (14.99%), morantel (8.86%), and tricetin (3.38%) were the main compounds. These findings provedthat C. myrrha has anti-diabetic and anti-obesity inhibition activity may be due to the bioactive compounds withinteresting medicinal properties.