Different Proportions of Huangqi (Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Honghua (Flos Carthami) Injection on alpha-Glucosidase and alpha-Amylase Activities

摘要

Objective. To study the effect of different proportions of Huangqi (Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Honghua (Flos Carthami) injection on alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase activity simultaneously. Methods. The injections were prepared according to the standards of the China Food and Drug Administration. The assay for potential alpha-glucosidase inhibitors was based on the hydrolysis of 4-methylumbelliferyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (4-MUG). The alpha-amylase EnzChek assay kit was used to determine potential alpha-amylase inhibitors. Acarbose was the positive control. Results. The half maximal (50%) inhibitory concentration (IC50) of acarbose against alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase was (1.8 +/- 0.4) mu g/mL and (227 +/- 32) mu g/mL, respectively. Honghua showed significant inhibition of alpha-glucosidase activity compared with Huangqi (P < 0.01). Honghua inhibited alpha-amylase activity, but Huangqi did not. IC(50)s for alpha-glucosidase inhibition by mixtures at 10 : 1, 5 : 1, and 2 : 1 were significantly lower than those at the 20 : 1 mixture (P < 0.01). alpha-Amylase inhibition by the 2 : 1 mixture was significantly higher than that by the 20 : 1, 10 : 1, and 5 : 1 mixtures at 500 mu g/mL and 1000 mu g/mL (P < 0.01), with 5 : 1 significantly higher than 20 : 1 and 10 : 1 at 1000 mu g/mL (P < 0.01). Conclusion. Honghua significantly inhibited alpha-glucosidase activity compared with Huangqi (P < 0.01). For simultaneous inhibition of alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase activities, the mixtures at 2 : 1 and 5 : 1 exhibited significant effects compared with those at 20 : 1 (P < 0.01).