Hypoglycemic activity of the antioxidant saponarin, characterized as α-glucosidase inhibitor present in Tinospora cordifolia

Tinospora cordifolia, used in anti-diabetic herbal drug preparations, was reported [12] to contain an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, characterized as saponarin (apigenin-6-C-glucosyl-7-O-glucoside). The leaf extract had appreciable antioxidant and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities and contained the flavonoid in the range of 32.1 +/- 1.5-45.5 +/- 3.5 mg/g of dry solid. Saponarin showed mixed competitive inhibition on activities of alpha-glucosidase and sucrase of different origins. IC(50), Ki and ki' values determined were 48 muM, 8 muM and 19.5 microM respectively for intestinal maltase and 35 microM, 6 microM and 13 microM respectively for intestinal sucrase. When given orally to maltose-fed rat, saponarin showed hypoglycemic activity in the range of 20-80 mg/kg compared to 100-200 mg/kg for acarbose as reported.