IN VITRO ALPHA AMYLASE INHIBITORY ACTIVITY OF COSTUS SPECIOSUS LEAVES: EFFECT OF SEASON
Tanaya Ghosh, Prasenjit Mitra and Prasanta Kumar Mitra*
ABSTRACT
Costus speciosus (C. speciosus) is a medicinal plant. Since long the plant is being used in traditional medicine for treatment of diabetes. Recently we have observed that C. speciosus leaves of this region exert in vitro anti amylase inhibitory activity. As biological activity of a medicinal plant varies with season, aim of the present work was to see the seasonal effect on in vitro alpha amylase inhibitory activity of C. speciosus leaves. Leaves of C. speciosus were collected during summer, autumn, winter and rainy season from the local market and authenticated by the taxonomist. Leaves were extracted with ethanol and the extract was checked for in vitro alpha amylase inhibitory activity by the standard method. Acarbose, a standard alpha amylase inhibitor, was used as control. Results showed that C. speciosus leaves of summer (March – May) had maximum alpha amylase inhibitory activity. Result was comparable to that of acarbose. As inhibition in the activity of alpha amylase may keep post prandial blood glucose level of diabetic patient under control, leaves of C. speciosus of summer may be used in the treatment of diabetes.
Keywords: C. speciosus leaves, alpha amylase inhibitory activity, seasonal variation, acarbose, diabetes.
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