Evaluation of Invertase Inhibition Activities and Cytotoxicity of Ethanol and Acetone Extracts of Swietenia macrophyllia Leaves, Syzygium cumini and Trigonella foenum-graecum Seeds

Invertase, the key enzyme responsible for sucrose hydrolysis. Inhibition of invertase can decrease the postprandial blood sugar level in diabetic patients and keep the blood glucose level normal where cytotoxicity to fast-growing cells like those of brine shrimp (Artemia salina) nauplii is a great measurement for further important drug development like anticancer drugs. This study was aimed to investigate potential anti-diabetic and cytotoxic activities of the ethanol and acetone extracts of Swietenia macrophylla leaves, Syzygium cumini and Trigonella foenum-graecum seeds. Invertase inhibition activities of S. macrophylla leaves, S. cumini, and T. foenum-graecum seeds were measured by spectrophotometrically using standard protocols and cytotoxicities were measured by brine shrimp lethality bioassay. Among the plant extracts, all ethanol extracts showed higher invertase inhibition activities than all acetone extracts. S. cumini seed ethanol extract showed the highest invertase inhibition activity whereas S. macrophylla leaves acetone extract showed the lowest invertase inhibition activity. The maximum toxicity was observed in ethanol extract of T. foenum-graecum seed whereas the lowest toxicity was observed in acetone extract of S. macrophylla leaves. Both ethanol and acetone extract of T. foenum-graecum seeds showed significant cytotoxic activities. This investigation suggested that S. cumini and T. foenum-graecum seeds possess potential antidiabetic activities and T. foenum-graecum seeds have potential cytotoxicity.