Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research

  • Abbreviation: J. Med. Plants Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0875
  • DOI: 10.5897/JMPR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 3835

Full Length Research Paper

Chemical composition and evaluation of possible alpha glucosidase inhibitory activity of eight Aloe species

Abeer Mohamed El Sayed
  • Abeer Mohamed El Sayed
  • Pharmacognosy Department, College of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Einy Street, 11562, Cairo, Egypt.
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Shahira Mohamed Ezzat
  • Shahira Mohamed Ezzat
  • Pharmacognosy Department, College of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Einy Street, 11562, Cairo, Egypt.
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Mohammed Nabil Khalil
  • Mohammed Nabil Khalil
  • Pharmacognosy Department, College of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Einy Street, 11562, Cairo, Egypt.
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Seham Salah El-Hawary
  • Seham Salah El-Hawary
  • Pharmacognosy Department, College of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Einy Street, 11562, Cairo, Egypt.
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  •  Received: 14 October 2015
  •  Accepted: 19 March 2016
  •  Published: 03 April 2016

Abstract

Many of the health benefits associated with Aloe species have been attributed to the polysaccharides contained in the gel of the leaves. The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition as well as the biological evaluation of polysaccharides isolated from the leaves of eight different Aloe species, A. vera (A1), A. arborescens (A2), A. eru (A3), A. grandidentata (A4), A. perfoliata (A5), A. brevifolia (A6), A. saponaria (A7) and A. ferox (A8) grown in El Orman Botanical Garden, Giza, Egypt. Polysaccharides from the plants were isolated using hot extraction method and then hydrolyzed. The polysaccharide hydrolysates were identified using high performance liquid chromatographic technique. Maximum yield of total polysaccharides identified were obtained from A7 (12.04%), A1 (8.51%), A8 (8.03%), A2 (5.32%) and A6 (2.18%) respectively. The isolated polysaccharides were tested for antihyperglycemic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats and alpha glucosidase inhibitory activity. Chromatographic investigation of the polysaccharides recorded the presence of 18 saccharides, glucuronic acid, stachyose, galacturonic acid, sucrose, glucose, xylose, galactose, rhamnose, mannose, arabinose, fructose polyol, mannitol and sorbitol in the eight Aloe species, but their quantitative composition differed among the species. Glucuronic acid, stachyose and galacturonic acid were the major detected saccharides. The results of the biological activities revealed significant antihyperglycemic activities with variable degrees. After four weeks of daily administration, polysaccharides isolated from A. vera (A1) and A. arborescens (A2) were the most active with 40 and 44% reduction in blood glucose level, respectively. All the tested polysaccharides showed significant alpha glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC50 (µg/ml) 11.70, 14.60 and 15.80 for A7, A6 and A1 respectively. In conclusion, the tested polysaccharides contribute to the antidiabetic action of these Aloe species.

Key words: Aloe, alpha glucosidase inhibitors, antidiabetic, polysaccharide.

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This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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