Alpha-amylase inhibition can treat diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is one amongst the main diseases prevailing worldwide. New therapeutic approaches are being investigated to regulate postprandrial glucose levels due to severe side-effects of commercially available anti-diabetic medications. Alpha-amylase is responsible for postprandial glucose levels therefore, different plant extracts with alpha-amylase inhibitory activity are being investigated that might decrease postprandial blood glucose levels, thus being an interesting and novel therapeutic target for diabetes mellitus treatment. A possible strategy to block dietary carbohydrate absorption is to use natural resources as carbohydrate digestive enzyme inhibitors as they have fewer side effects than synthetic drugs. Thus, in this review alpha-amylase inhibitory activity of medicinal plants and their phytochemical compounds are explored that might be helpful within the treatment of diabetes mellitus.