ABSTRACT:
In preventing the progression of various metabolic diseases, medicinal plants play very important role. The present study was focused on three different medicinal plants, Pulicaria wightiania, Derris scandens and Curcuma inodora commonly found in Narsapur forest of Medak district Telangana, (India), were screened for the potency of antioxidant and antidiabetic activity by various In-vitro methods. Three plants leaves were extracted using methanol and ethanol as solvents based on their solubility. Methanol extracts of Pulicaria wightiania, Derris scandens and ethanolic extract of Curcuma inodora plants leaves were examined. Antioxidant activities of three different extracts were evaluated by DPPH scavenging assay and putative antidiabetic activity was determined by in-vitro methods such as Glucose uptake by Yeast cells method, a-glucosidase inhibition activity assays. A dose dependent significant DPPH scavenging activity was found with three different plants when compared with standard drug ascorbic acid. The three plants leaf extracts exhibited a significant inhibitory action on a-glucosidase enzyme. The data obtained clearly suggests that the plant extract is capable of effectively enhancing glucose uptake which in turn suggests that it is capable of enhancing effective glucose utilization thereby controlling blood glucose level. The results suggest that these plants possess potential antioxidant and antidiabetic components.