Planta Med 2016; 82(S 01): S1-S381
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1596540
Abstracts
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Vaccinium cereum leaves, Tahitian berry, a common endemic plant with α-glucosidase inhibitory activity

S Benayad
1   UMR 241 EIO, University of French Polynesia, PoBox 6570 – 98702 Faaa – Tahiti, French Polynesia
,
E Adam
1   UMR 241 EIO, University of French Polynesia, PoBox 6570 – 98702 Faaa – Tahiti, French Polynesia
,
S Soulet
1   UMR 241 EIO, University of French Polynesia, PoBox 6570 – 98702 Faaa – Tahiti, French Polynesia
,
I Bombarda
2   IMBE-UMR 7263, Aix-Marseille University, St JEROME- Avenue Escadrille Normandie Niemen -13013 Marseille France
,
C Debitus
3   UMR 241 EIO, IRD, PoBox 529 – 98713 Papeete-Tahiti, French Polynesia
,
T Teai
1   UMR 241 EIO, University of French Polynesia, PoBox 6570 – 98702 Faaa – Tahiti, French Polynesia
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
14 December 2016 (online)

 

Diabetes mellitus is a major cause of death worldwide and affected 9% of the population in 2014 [1]. In French Polynesia, type 2 diabetes is the second noncommunicable disease after high arterial blood pressure, and 10% of the population is concerned [2]. The extent of this disease encourages the search for new treatments. French Polynesia, one well-known world biodiversity “hot spot”, is an overseas French territory. Its terrestrial vascular flora is original, with 54% endemism [3]. Studies on the bioactivity and phytochemistry of those plants are very scarce. Given that α-glucosidase plays an important role in the regulation of type 2 diabetes, we have undertaken a search for an α-glucosidase inhibitor among those endemic plants.

Vaccinium cereum var. cereum was selected for its strong in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. This species has never been studied from a phytochemical point of view and such activity or therapeutic traditional use never been reported. A bio-guided phytochemical study was carried out on V. cereum var. cereum using column chromatography and HPLC. Various compounds were isolated and characterized by NMR, including the active compounds ursolic acid (IC50= 23.87µM), oleanolic acid (IC50= 9.20µM) and (E)-4-methoxycinnamic acid (IC50= 42.10µM). The strong activities observed were compared to the standard 1-deoxynojirimycin (IC50= 30.64µM). These compounds were already known to possess inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase [4]. In French Polynesia, there are 4 varieties of V. cereum. The 3 varieties: var. adenandrum (Decne) F.Br., var. cereum (L.f.) G. Forst and var. pubiflorum Skottsb are common and have shown comparable inhibitory activities against α-glucosidase. The fourth one, var. raiateense (J.W.Moore) M.L. Grant is considered as an endangered category (IUCN red list) and could not be included in this study. V. cereum represents a real health benefit and could be used by local people to improve blood glucose control.

Acknowledgements: French Polynesia research delegation and ED 469 for financial support.

Keywords: Vaccinium cereum, α-glucosidase inhibitory, phytochemical study.

References:

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