Abstract:
Zanthoxylum armatum (ZA) (family: Rutaceae) is one of the commonly used spices, food
ingredient and medicinal plant in the traditional medicine in Asia. The plant extracts
containing secondary metabolites are good source of enzyme inhibitors and potential source
of medicines. The alkaloid fraction isolated from stem bark (ZBA) showed maximum
inhibition of 72.61±1.34% with IC50 values of 325.62±1.29 µg/mL. This activity was
significant when compared to the standard drug Acarbose (IC50 = 375.82±1.76µM). The
isolated crude alkaloids were also screened against the urease enzyme. The fruit alkaloids
ZFA showed excellent inhibitory activity with 87.28±1.35% with IC50 values of 57.95±1.23
µg/mL. Similarly, alkaloids from root bark also showed good activity. Anti-lipoxygenase
inhibitory studies of alkaloids fractions were also assessed and the results are tabulated in
table I. The alkaloids fractions from root bark and fruit showed maximum inhibition of 5-
LOX with percentage inhibition of 91.36±0.87 (IC50 ±S.E.M = 42.83±0.58) and 89.42±0.84
(IC50 ±S.E.M=32.25±0.67), respectively. The results showed inhibitory activity against the
enzymes tested, therefore, motivating the use of natural products as source of enzyme
inhibitors due to greater structural diversity. The results showed that alkaloids fractions
have the potential to treat diabetes, inflammation, gastritis, ulcers and other related
disorders by acting as enzyme inhibitor.
