Inhibitory effects of aqueous extract of Eremurus spectabilis M. Bieb. on diabetes mellitus and skin related enzymes

Background and Aims: Nutritional bioactive and natural ingredients isolated from wild edible plants, with promising effects against diabetes and/or diabetes-related diseases continue to be investigated. There is increasing interest in these substances due to their protective/therapeutic potential. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the inhibitory potential of aqueous extract of Eremurus spectabilis M. Bieb. on diabetes mellitus and skin-related enzymes. Methods: Fresh E. spectabilis leaves were obtained from a local market in Eyup/İstanbul, Turkey and their aqueous extract was prepared. Inhibitory activities of the aqueous extract of this plant on α-amylase, α-glucosidase, elastase, hyaluronidase, and tyrosinase were examined. Results: The aqueous extract of E. spectabilis showed effective inhibitor activity against both α-amylase and α-glucosidase as compared to acarbose. On the other hand, the aqueous extract exhibited a moderate inhibitory activity on elastase. Whereas, it exhibited a weak inhibitory effect on the activities of hyaluronidase and tyrosinase when compared to their respective standard inhibitors. Conclusion: The current findings suggest that the consumption of E. spectabilis leaves may be of benefit for regulation of postprandial blood glucose, as shown by the strongly inhibiting action of its extract on both α-amylase and α-glucosidase. In addition, it might be beneficial against skin-related disorders, because of its inhibitory action on elastase activity.