Inhibitory effect of roasted/ unroasted Argania spinosa seeds oil on α- glucosidase, α-amylase and intestinal glucose absorption activities

Abstract Background Diabetes mellitus is a serious metabolic disease, which affects a large number of populations in the world. Phytotherapy is considered as the most remedies used by Moroccan people to treat this pathology. Argania spinosa L. (SKEELS) seeds oils is among the products that are used traditionally in Morocco for the anti-diabetic purposes. Objective The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of roasted (Roil) and unroasted (UnRoil) Argan seeds oils on α-glucosidase, α-amylase and intestinal glucose absorption activities in vitro and in vivo. Methods The antihyperglycemic effect of the roasted and unroasted Argania spinosa L. seeds oils was tested against α-glucosidase and α-amylase activities, in vitro, at the concentrations (82, 165, 328 and 656 µg/mL) and (0.9, 2.25, 4.5 and 9 mg/mL) respectively. In addition, the inhibitory effect of the oils against these enzymes was confirmed, in vivo, in normal and STZ- diabetic rats. The antihyperglycemic effect of these oils was also tested against intestinal d -glucose absorption activity at the dose of 1 mL/Kg using the jejunum segment perfusion technique, in situ. Results The results of this study were showed that the Roil and the UnRoil were significantly (p Conclusion The Argan oils showed a very high anti-hyperglycemic activity. This effect could be achieved by the inhibiting of the activity of pancreatic α-amylase, intestinal α-glucosidase and the intestinal absorption of D-glucose. Moreover, the UnRoil has shown a better anti-hyperglycemic activity than the Roil, which means that the torrefaction of the Argan seeds before the oil extraction, influence on the bioactive constituents responsible for this beneficial effect.