Evaluation of the Inhibitory Effect of a Medicinal Herb Phyllanthus amarus on the Activity of α-Amylase, Pepsin and Trypsin

Abstract

The medical herb Phyllanthus amarus play a crucial role in indigenous medicine. Therapeutically, these plants’ extract acts as potential players that inhibits several digestive enzymes that are relevant to the management of Peptic ulcers and Diabetes Mellitus, which occur due to the overproduction of such enzymes. Evaluation of inhibitory effect of this extract was carried out against Pepsin, α-amylase, Trypsin enzymes along with the effect of thermal stability and ammonium sulphate precipitation on these inhibitory assays. P. amarus leave’s extract with different concentration gradients were used in this research analysis. Results obtained along with the literature analysis revealed photochemical compounds such as polyphenols causes inhibitory nature in the extract. Maximal percentage of inhibition of amylase, pepsin and trypsin were found to be 71% (0.32 mg/ml), 85% (0.08 mg/ml) and 87% (1.28 mg/ml) respectively. In thermal stability assay the maximum percentage of inhibition for amylase, pepsin and trypsin was observed at 30% (80°C), 68% (4°C) and 5% (37°C). Enzymes inhibitory assays on ammonium sulphate precipitation elicited maximum percentage of inhibition for amylase, pepsin and trypsin as 42% (at 45% of (NH4)2SO4), 58% (at 15% of (NH4)2SO4) and 40% (at 30% of (NH4)2SO4) respectively. This research concluded that Phyllanthus amarus leave extracts are potential inhibitors of α-amylase, pepsin and trypsin enzymes. Ammonium sulphate precipitation was helpful to purify the polyphenols the active compounds to a good extend. Also, thermal stability was helpful to check the stability of these active photochemical compounds present in the extract. Thus, P. amarus is an effective inhibitor to be used as supplements in the disease management.