Assesment of free radical scavenging activity and inhibitory properties of aqueous extract of Cymodocea serrulata segrass towards α- glucosidase and α –amylase enzyme

Aim: The study reports the in vitro free radical scavenging and α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition activities of aqueous extract of seagrass Cymodocea serrulata from Gulf of Mannar, Southeast Asia. Methods: The free radical scavenging activity was evaluated by DPPH, Superoxide, Nitric oxide and Hydroxyl radical scavenging assays and α-amylase, α-glucosidase enzyme inhibitory activity. The C. serrulata showed effective DPPH radical scavenging activity of 69.45 μg/mL, Superoxide radical scavenging activity of 91.08.5 ± 0.02%, Nitric oxide radical scavenging activity of 86.89 ± 0.03% and Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of 81.09 ± 0.3 % at a concentration of 5 μg/mL respectively. It also showed significant inhibitory activity against α- amylase with an IC50 value of 3.0 ± 0.04 (μg/ml) and the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 3.7 ± 1.01 (μg/ml) at concentrations of 1-5 μg/mL. Conclusion: Cymodocea serrulata was found to be a potent free radical scavenger and inhibitor of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes.