Abstract

In the present study, 29 medicinal plants belonging to 20 families were evaluated for their hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) inhibitory potential. The methanolic extracts prepared from plant parts used, were tested in vitro at 200 µg/ml concentrations for their inhibitory potential (expressed as % inhibition of XO activity). Twelve plants were found most active (% inhibition more than 30%) and their inhibition profiles (dose-dependent) were further evaluated by estimating the IC₅₀ values of their corresponding extracts. These active plants are Malva nicaeensis All. (IC₅₀ = 51.07 µg/ml), Haplophyllum buxbaumii (Poir.) G. Don. (101.3 µg/ml), Anchusa italica Retz. (132.8 µg/ml), Cleome africana Botsch. (168.9 µg/ml),Salvia fruticosa Mill. (276.7 µg/ml), Glaucium aleppicum Boiss. and Hausskn. ex Boiss. (289.7 µg/ml), Reseda alba L. (396.6 µg/ml), Mentha spicata L. (421.3 µg/ml), Ononis natrixL. (422.8 µg/ml), Chrysanthemum coronarium L. (463.7 µg/ml), Anagallis arvensis L. (751.9 µg/ml), and Hypericum triquetrifolium Turra (828.6 µg/ml). The extracts of the majority of other tested plants showed, however, moderate to weak activities. The results of the present screening provide good herbal choices to combat insulin resistance in human, thus playing a role in developing successful herbal remedies for diabetes and related disorders.

Key words: Diabetes mellitus, obesity, hormone sensitive lipase, anti-lipase activity, medicinal plants, plant extracts.