Inhibition of digestive enzymes (α-amylase, α-glucosidase, lipase, trypsin) by aqueous Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Malvaceae) extract

A considerable portion of the world population uses medicinal plants to treat chronic diseases. In this context, hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa L. - Malvaceae) stands out for its supposed hypoglycemic and slimming effect. The present work aimed to carry out enzyme inhibition tests for aqueous hibiscus extracts, as a possible mechanism of action related to the supposed slimming and hypoglycemic effects. The inhibition of four digestive enzymes (α-amylase, α-glucosidase, lipase and trypsin) was tested before and after exposure to a simulated gastric fluid. In addition, a molecular anchorage study was carried out, in order to highlight possible molecular interactions between target and ligand. The results showed that the aqueous extract of hibiscus, in the proportion 1:10 (w/v), inhibits only α-glucosidase. It was observed that cyanidin-3-sambubioside, has interaction with the enzyme with properties similar to acarbose, which corroborates the possibility of the presence of an inhibitory effect in the aqueous extract of hibiscus.