ANTIDIABETIC PROPERTIES

Sida acuta commonly known as wire weed possesses several therapeutic properties that can be recognized in traditional medicine. Sida acuta has been found to contain several photochemical (flavonoids, tannins, steroids), antioxidant and antidiabetic properties. The aim of this study was to determine the in vitro antidiabetic activities of the aqueous extract of Sida acuta on α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme. In this study, the result on the α-amylase assay shows that the standard (acarbose) has better in vitro antidiabetic properties on α-amylase enzyme by inhibiting α-amylase at IC50 of 29997.9µg/ml when compared to the inhibitory properties of the aqueous Sida acuta extract which had an IC50 of 42966.9µg/ml. The result obtained from the α-glucosidase assay showed that the IC50 of the standard (acarbose) had better in vitro antidiabetic properties on the α glucosidase enzyme by inhibiting α-glucosidase at an IC50 of 10120.52µg/ml when compared to that of the extract (IC50 of 14333.29µg/ml). In conclusion the extract displayed its medicinal properties by inhibiting α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme and could be used as a possible anti diabetic therapeutic agent.