Inhibitory action of Cerrado plants against mammalian and insect alpha -amylases

摘要

A total of 185 hexanic, dichloromethanic, ethanolic and hydroethanolic extracts from 24 species of Cerrado plants, were tested against Zabrotes subfasciatus, Acanthoscelides obtectus, and human saliva alpha -amylases. Twelve crude extracts presented inhibition rates greater than 80% against digestive alpha -amylases of the insect pest Z. subfasciatus, at a concentration of 1mgmL super(-) super(1). These extracts were also tested against A. obtectus and human saliva alpha -amylases to verify their affinity and specificity of action. The hydroethanolic Kielmeyera coriacea stem bark extract presented a strong inhibitory potential, with IC sub(5) sub(0) values of 110 mu gmL super(-) super(1) for Z. subfasciatus and 272.12 mu gmL super(-) super(1) for A. obtectus, in addition to a 97.09% reduction in enzyme activity of human saliva alpha -amylases at 125 mu gmL super(-) super(1). The hexanic Aspidosperma macrocarpon root wood extract totally inhibited the activity of Z. subfasciatus alpha -amylases, reduced the enzyme activity of A. obtectus by 14.69% at 1mgmL super(-) super(1), but did not alter the activity of human saliva alpha -amylases, thus characterizing greater inhibition affinity and specificity. The results suggest that the application of plant extracts against insect alpha -amylases represent a promising biotechnological tool for development of new insect pest control strategies, with noticeable affinity and specificity of action against different target enzymes.