Appraisal of Selected Enzymes Inhibitory Potential of Maytenus royleana Wall. Roots

Abstract

Phytomedicine is gaining momentum as an alternative option to allopathic system of medicine owing to more adaptability, fewer side effects, cheaper and established ethnomedicinal use. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to scientifically validate ethnomedicinal uses of the traditional plant and mechanistic insights of its enzyme inhibitory properties. Analytical grade solvents; distilled water (D), ethyl acetate (E) and methanol (M) were used for the successive solvent extraction of Maytenus royleana. Protein kinase inhibition assay and standard chromogenic assays including α-glucosidase, α-amylase and urease inhibition assays were used for the preliminary screening of active samples which were further tested at lower concentrations to determine their IC50. Michaelis-Menten and Linewaver-burk plots were used to determine the kinetic parameters and the type of enzyme inhibition of active samples. Moreover, biocompatibility profile was also established on the basis of hemolysis of RBCs. The highest amount of gallic acid equivalent (GAE) in total phenolic content (TPC) was obtained in methanolic extract of Maytenus royleana (17.12±0.08 µg GAE/mg) and in case of total flavonoid content (TFC), quercetin equivalent (QE) was highest in ethyl acetate extract (8.78±0.04 µg QE/mg) of subject plant. A noteworthy anti hyperglycemic potential by α-amylase enzyme inhibition was recorded by ethyl acetate extract of Maytenus royleana (68±0.21 µg/ml). Substantial inhibition of α-glucosidase was recorded in the distilled water extract of Maytenus royleana (92±0.42 µg/ml). No significant urease inhibition proficiency and protein kinase inhibition was exhibited by any of the extracts. Enzyme kinetics plots have concluded that ethyl acetate and distilled water extract of Maytenus royleana showed competitive type of inhibition. Principally, the results of the undertaken study propose extracts screened found to be potential enzyme inhibitors can be used for the prevention and treatment of relevant ailments.