Hypoglycemic Potential Of Fractions From The Methanol Stem Extract Of Olax Subscorpioidea Oliv (olaceaces)

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic condition which is characterized by high blood glucose. It is becoming the third common killer of mankind after cancer and cardiovascular disease, because of its high prevalence, morbidity and mortality.Objective: In this study, the hypoglycaemic potential of fractions from the methanol extract of the stem of Olax subscorpioideaOliv was investigated. Olax subscorpioidea is a shrub or tree which belongs to the family of Olacaceae. It is used in traditional medicine for the management of inflammatory disorders, infectious diseases, diabetes and mental illness.Method: The hypoglycaemic potential was investigated using the α-amylase inhibitory method. Alpha amylase inhibition experiment was carried out at concentration of extracts ranging from 20- 1000μg/mL.Results: Acarbose had its highest inhibitory activity of 57.8% at 1000 μg/mLwhile ethylacetate fraction had the highest activity of 52.5% at the same concentration. Solvent fractions from the methanol extract of Olax subscorpioidea stem inhibited the αamylase enzyme with IC values of 454.3 μg/mLfor 50 acarbose, 719.7 μg/mLfor ethylacetate fraction and >1000 μg/mLeach for n-hexane, chloroform, butanol and aqueous fractions.Conclusion: The ethylacetate fraction exhibited a more potent α-amylase inhibitory activity than all the other fractions; hence further studies should be focused at investigating the bioactive constituents present in the ethyl acetate fraction of the plant in pursuit of potential anti-diabetic agents. Keywords: Olax subscorpioidea,hypoglycaemia, alpha-amylase, acarbos