An in vitro evaluation of the antioxidant and antidiabetic potential of Sutherlandia montana E. Phillips & R.A. Dyer leaf extracts

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of Sutherlandia montana E. Phillips & R.A. Dyer leaf extracts using the in vitro model. Methods The antioxidant activities of aqueous, decoction, ethanol and hydro-ethanol extracts of the plant were determined using seven different assays; the antidiabetic potential was evaluated through the inhibition of key carbohydrate hydrolysing enzymes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase), while the modes of the enzymes inhibition were assessed using enzyme kinetic analysis. Results The ethanol extract exhibited the best scavenging activity (IC