Research Article CYTOPROTECTIVE AND DIPEPTIDYL PEPTIDASE IV (DPP-IV/CD26) INHIBITORY ROLES OF OCIMUM SANCTUM AND MOMORDICA CHARANTIA EXTRACT

Objective- The present work deals with investigation of DPP-IV inhibition activity vis a vis cytoprotective potential, if any, in methanolic extracts of two antidiabetic plants; Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi) leaves and Momordica charantia (Karela / bitter melon) fruit. Methods- The DPP-IV activity and cytoprotective efficacy was studied using different antioxidant activity assays such as hepatic lipid peroxidation, erythrocytes haemolysis inhibition, in vitro DPP-IV activity; DPPH radical scavenging efficacy; ferric reducing potential; reducing power and total phenolic contents at the varying concentrations in the extracts of O. sanctum and M. charantia. Result- Methanolic extract (0.5 mg/ml) of O. sanctum inhibited DPP-IV activities (66.81±0.05%) at greater extent than that of M. charantia (53.25±0.04%); O. sanctum extract contains relatively higher amount of total phenolic content, elevated DPPH free radical scavenging potential and pronounced reducing power efficacy than that of M. charantia. O. sanctum inhibited erythrocytes haemolysis at greater extent (13.1±0.188 µg/ml) as compared to M. charantia (10.3±0.41 µg/ml). Conclusion- The result of present study ravel that O. sanctum and M. charantia extracts contain some novel DPP-IV inhibitors with antiperoxidative potential and could be developed as therapeutic molecules for type 2 diabetes mellitus