In vitro antidiabetic and antityrosinase activities of methanolic extracts of four nigerian medicinal plants: A kinetic study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71193/jpci.20260021Keywords:
Medicinal Plants, Enzyme Inhibition, Antidiabetics, Hyperpigmentation, KineticAbstract
Medicinal plants provide a potential source of enzyme inhibitors to aid in diabetes and hyperpigmentation management. This research assessed the in vitro antidiabetic and antityrosinase effects of methanolic extracts from four Nigerian plants: Euphorbia graminea, Berlinia sp., Tabernaemontana pachysiphon, and Anacardium occidentale. Standard chromogenic tests were used to test the inhibition of diabetic enzymes (α-glucosidase and α-amylase) and the inhibitory effects on tyrosinase were monitored at 30 minutes. Berlinia sp. at 100 µg/mL demonstrated the highest inhibition of α-glucosidase inhibition at 83.46 ± 4.12%, like the 91.12 ± 2.34% inhibition seen with acarbose. It also showed moderate α-amylase inhibition at 66.59 ± 5.01%. Euphorbia graminea showed selective inhibition of α-amylase with 68.39 ± 4.87%. The inhibition of tyrosinase activity was moderate, with Berlinia sp. and E. graminea exhibiting 55.04 ± 3.98% and 53.90 ± 4.21% inhibition, respectively, both significantly less active than kojic acid (99.39 ± 1.02%). Different time-dependent inhibitory patterns were observed by kinetic analysis, indicating different modes of interaction with the enzyme. These results demonstrate the dual inhibition property of Berlinia sp. and reinforce the traditional uses of these plants, highlighting the potential for bioassay-guided extraction of bioactive compounds.
Downloads
References
Arumugam, G., Manjula, P., & Paari, N. (2013). A review: Antidiabetic medicinal plants used for diabetes mellitus. Journal of Acute Disease, 2(3), 196-200. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2221-6189(13)60126-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2221-6189(13)60126-2
Boo, Y. C. (2020). Emerging strategies to protect the skin from ultraviolet rays using plant-derived materials. Antioxidants, 9(7), 637. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9070637 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9070637
Carcelli, M., Rogolino, D., Bartoli, J., Pala, N., & Sechi, M. (2025). Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel kojic acid triazole hybrids as tyrosinase inhibitors and antibrowning agents. Scientific Reports, 15005. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99123-0
Chang, T. S. (2009). An updated review of tyrosinase inhibitors. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 10(6), 2440-2475. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms10062440 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms10062440
Chiasson, J. L., Josse, R. G., Gomis, R., Hanefeld, M., Karasik, A., & Laakso, M. (2002). Acarbose for prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus: The STOP-NIDDM randomised trial. Lancet, 359(9323), 2072-2077. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(02)08905-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(02)08905-5
Chompoo, J., Upadhyay, A., Fukuta, M., & Tawata, S. (2012). Effect of Alpinia zerumbet components on antioxidant and skin diseases-related enzymes. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 12, 106. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-12-106 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-12-106
Derosa, G., & Maffioli, P. (2012). α-Glucosidase inhibitors and their use in clinical practice. Archives of Medical Science, 8(5), 899-906. https://doi.org/10.5114/aoms.2012.31621 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/aoms.2012.31621
Dirir, A. M., Daou, M., Yousef, A. F., & Yousef, L. F. (2022). A review of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors from plants as potential candidates for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Phytochemistry Reviews, 21(4), 1049-1079. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-021-09794-w DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-021-09773-1
Duarte, A. M., Guarino, M. P., Barroso, S., & Gil, M. M. (2020). Phytopharmacological strategies in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Foods, 9(3), 271. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9030271 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9030271
Febriyanti, R. M., Indradi, R. B., Maisyarah, I. T., Iskandar, Y., Susanti, R. D., & Lestari, D. (2025). Alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes inhibition and antioxidant potential of selected medicinal plants used as anti-diabetes by Sundanese community in West Java, Indonesia. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 25, 426. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04856-w DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-05144-x
Ganesan, A. (2008). The impact of natural products upon modern drug discovery. Current Opinion in Chemical Biology, 12(3), 306-317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2008.03.016 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2008.03.016
Garcia-Jimenez, A., Teruel-Puche, J. A., Berna, J., Rodriguez-Lopez, J. N., Tudela, J., & Garcia-Canovas, F. (2017). Action of tyrosinase on alpha- and beta-arbutin: A kinetic study. PLoS ONE, 12(5), e0177330. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0177330 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0177330
Harvey, A. L., Edrada-Ebel, R., & Quinn, R. J. (2015). The re-emergence of natural products for drug discovery in the genomics era. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 14(2), 111-129. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd4510 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd4510
Kajaria, D., Tiwari, S., Tripathi, J., & Tripathi, Y. (2013). In vitro α-amylase and glycosidase inhibitory effect of ethanolic extract of antiasthmatic drug-Shirishadi. Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology and Research, 4(4), 206-209. https://doi.org/10.4103/2231-4040.121409 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/2231-4040.121415
Kim, J. H., Lee, S. H., & Park, K. H. (2021). Mixed-type inhibition of tyrosinase diphenolase by plant extracts: Kinetic analysis and inhibitor screening. Molecules, 26(15), 4576. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26154576 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26154576
Lahlou, M. (2013). The success of natural products in drug discovery. Pharmacology and Pharmacy, 4(3), 17-31. https://doi.org/10.4236/pp.2013.43A003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4236/pp.2013.43A003
Lam, T. P., Tran, N. V. N., Pham, L. H. D., Dang, B. T. N., Lai, N. V. T., Truong, N. L., Nguyen-Vo, S. K., Hoang, T. L., Mai, T. T., & Tran, T. D. (2024). Flavonoids as dual-target inhibitors against α-glucosidase and α-amylase: A systematic review of in vitro studies. Natural Products and Bioprospecting, 14, 1-27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13659-024-00478-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13659-023-00424-w
Lee, S. Y., Baek, N., & Nam, T. G. (2016). Natural, semisynthetic and synthetic tyrosinase inhibitors. Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry, 31(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.3109/14756366.2015.1004058 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3109/14756366.2015.1004058
Marinho, F. J. S., Moura, A. C. S., & Rodrigues, K. A. F. (2021). Tabernaemontana species: Promising sources of new useful drugs. Phytochemistry Reviews, 20(4), 815-844. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-020-09715-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-020-09715-3
Masum, M. N., Yamauchi, K., & Mitsunaga, T. (2019). Tyrosinase inhibitors from natural and synthetic sources as skin-lightening agents. Reviews in Agricultural Science, 7, 41-58. https://doi.org/10.7831/ras.7.41 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7831/ras.7.41
McDougall, G. J., Shpiro, F., Dobson, P., Smith, P., Blake, A., & Stewart, D. (2005). Different polyphenolic components of soft fruits inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 53(7), 2760-2766. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf0489926 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jf0489926
Mohanapriya, N., Murugesan, S., & Sivamurugan, V. (2016). In vitro α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of methanol extract of Tolypiocladia glomerulata (C. Agardh) F. Schmitz. Saudi Journal of Biomedical Research, 1(3), 59-64.
Newman, D. J., & Cragg, G. M. (2020). Natural products as sources of new drugs over the nearly four decades from 01/1981 to 09/2019. Journal of Natural Products, 83(3), 770-803. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b01285 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b01285
Ni, X., Luo, X., Jiang, X., Chen, W., & Bai, R. (2025). Small-molecule tyrosinase inhibitors for treatment of hyperpigmentation. Molecules, 30(4), 788. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30040788 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30040788
Oiso, N., Tatebayashi, M., Hoshiyama, Y., & Kawada, A. (2017). Allergic contact dermatitis caused by arbutin and dipotassium glycyrrhizate in skin-lightening products. Contact Dermatitis, 77(1), 51-53. https://doi.org/10.1111/cod.12772 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cod.12739
Ortholand, J. Y., & Ganesan, A. (2004). Natural products and combinatorial chemistry: Back to the future. Current Opinion in Chemical Biology, 8(3), 271-280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2004.04.011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2004.04.011
Pan, G., Lu, Y., Wei, Z., Li, Y., Li, L., & Pan, X. (2024). A review on the in vitro and in vivo screening of α-glucosidase inhibitors. Heliyon, 10, e37467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e37467 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e37467
Pillaiyar, T., Manickam, M., & Namasivayam, V. (2017). Skin whitening agents: Medicinal chemistry perspective of tyrosinase inhibitors. Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry, 32(1), 403-425. https://doi.org/10.1080/14756366.2016.1256882 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14756366.2016.1256882
Pinthong, D., Limtrakul, P., & Pongrakhananon, V. (2025). Biochemical and molecular study of members of Euphorbiaceae family for tyrosinase inhibitory effect. SciProfiles.
Pohntadavit, K., Duangmano, S., Osiriphan, M., Leksawasdi, N., Techapun, C., Sumonsiri, N., Sommano, S. R., Rachtanapun, P., Nunta, R., & Khemacheewakul, J. (2024). Tyrosinase inhibitory activity of crude procyanidin extract from green soybean seed and the stability of bioactive compounds in an anti-aging skin care formulation. Cosmetics, 11(6), 178. https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics11060178 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics11050178
Rehman, M. T., Alqahtani, A. S., Hidayathulla, S., ElGamal, A. A., Al-Massarani, S., Razmovski-Naumovski, V., Alqahtani, M. S., El Dib, R. A., & AlAjmi, M. F. (2020). Alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzyme inhibition and antioxidant potential of 3-oxolupenal and katononic acid isolated from Nuxia oppositifolia. Biomolecules, 10(1), 61. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom10010061 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/biom10010061
Riaz, R., Batool, S., Zucca, P., Rescigno, A., Peddio, S., & Saleem, R. S. Z. (2021). Plants as a promising reservoir of tyrosinase inhibitors. Mini Reviews in Organic Chemistry, 18(6), 690-710. https://doi.org/10.2174/1570193X18666210114123116 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/1570193X17999201026230245
Salehi, B., Ata, A., Anil Kumar, N. V., Sharopov, F., Ramírez-Alarcón, K., Ruiz-Ortega, A., & Sharifi-Rad, J. (2019). Antidiabetic potential of medicinal plants and their active components. Biomolecules, 9(10), 551. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9100551 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9100551
Sinan, K. I., Etienne, O. K., Stefanucci, A., Mollica, A., Mahomoodally, M. F., Jugreet, S., Rocchetti, G., Lucini, L., Aktumsek, A., Montesano, D., Ak, G., & Zengin, G. (2020). Chemodiversity and biological activity of essential oils from three species from the Euphorbia genus. Flavour and Fragrance Journal, 35(1), 148-158. https://doi.org/10.1002/ffj.3549 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ffj.3624
Skoczyńska, A., Budzisz, E., Trznadel-Grodzka, E., & Rotsztejn, H. (2017). Melanin and lipofuscin as hallmarks of skin aging. Advances in Dermatology and Allergology, 34(2), 97-103. https://doi.org/10.5114/ada.2017.67070 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/ada.2017.67070
Tadera, K., Minami, Y., Takamatsu, K., & Matsuoka, T. (2006). Inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase by flavonoids. Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, 52(2), 149-153. https://doi.org/10.3177/jnsv.52.149 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3177/jnsv.52.149
Thengyai, S., Thiantongin, P., Sontimuang, C., Ovatlarnporn, C., & Puttarak, P. (2020). α-Glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities of medicinal plants in Thai antidiabetic recipes and bioactive compounds from Vitex glabrata R. Br. stem bark. Journal of Herbal Medicine, 19, 100292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2019.100292 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2019.100302
Tundis, R., Loizzo, M. R., & Menichini, F. (2010). Natural products as α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitors and their hypoglycaemic potential in the treatment of diabetes: An update. Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry, 10(4), 315-331. https://doi.org/10.2174/138955710791331007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/138955710791331007
Van de Laar, F. A., Lucassen, P. L. B. J., Akkermans, R. P., Van de Lisdonk, E. H., Rutten, G. E. H. M., & Van Weel, C. (2005). α-Glucosidase inhibitors for patients with type 2 diabetes: Results from a Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetes Care, 28(1), 154-163. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.28.1.154 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.28.1.154
Vardhan, A., Khan, S., & Pandey, B. (2014). Screening of plant parts for anti-tyrosinase activity by tyrosinase assay using mushroom tyrosinase. Indian Journal of Scientific Research, 4, 134-139.
World Health Organization. (2021). Improving diabetes outcomes for all, a hundred years on from the discovery of insulin: Report of the Global Diabetes Summit. Geneva: World Health Organization.
Xiao, J., Ni, X., Kai, G., & Chen, X. (2013). A review on structure-activity relationship of dietary polyphenols inhibiting α-amylase. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 53(5), 497-506. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2010.548108 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2010.548108
Zaidi, K. U., Ali, S. A., & Ali, A. S. (2016). Effect of purified mushroom tyrosinase on melanin content and melanogenic protein expression. Biotechnology Research International, 2016, 9706214. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/9706214 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/9706214
Zargaran, M., Hosseini, S. S., & Saboury, A. A. (2025). Kinetics and inhibition study of tyrosinase by pressure mediated microanalysis. Analytical Biochemistry, 678, 115282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ab.2023.115282 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ab.2023.115282
Zeitoun, H., Seité, S., & Moyal, D. (2020). Skin lightening effect of natural extracts coming from Senegal botanical biodiversity. International Journal of Dermatology, 59(3), 318-325. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.14746 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.14699
Zengin, G., Mahomoodally, M. F., Picot-Allain, C. M. N., Cakmakci, Y. S., Uysal, S., & Aktumsek, A. (2019). In vitro tyrosinase inhibitory and antioxidant potential of Consolida orientalis, Onosma isauricum and Spartium junceum from Turkey. South African Journal of Botany, 120, 119-123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2018.05.009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2018.01.010
Zolghadri, S., Bahrami, A., Khan, M. T. H., Munoz-Munoz, J., Garcia-Molina, F., Garcia-Canovas, F., & Saboury, A. A. (2019). A comprehensive review on tyrosinase inhibitors. Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry, 34(1), 279-309. https://doi.org/10.1080/14756366.2018.1545767 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14756366.2018.1545767
Downloads
Published
Data Availability Statement
All data supporting the findings of this study are included within the article
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Olugbenga Kayode Popoola, Segun Ayomide Oyebisi, Taiwo John Fatoki, Olatunji Kamarudeen Agboola (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
