PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI-DIABETIC POTENTIALS OF PERSEA AMERICANA MILL. (LAURACEAE) FRUIT EXTRACT

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and the management of blood glucose level is an important strategy in the control of the disease and complications associated with it. Therefore, components that cause uptake of glucose from the bloodstream and inhibitors of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes can be useful in treatment of DM and medicinal plants are often used to achieve this aim. Avocado fruit is rich in phytochemicals necessary for treatment of DM. The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of Persea americana fruit extracts on α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. The percentage yield, phytochemical screening (both qualitative and quantitative), in vitro antioxidant and anti-diabeticassays, and kinetic studies were performed with different solvent extracts of Avocado fruit pulp. Results: Avocado hadgreat and promising potential as pharmaceutical agent, particularly to be developed as anti-diabetic through the inhibition of α-glucosidase and α- amylase enzymes.  In vitro studies of the antioxidant activity of the fruit extract gaveanevidence and strong biochemical rationale of their therapeutic potential. The fruit extract of P. americana may play an important role in the development of nutraceuticals and also in the management of oxidative stress induced DM.