WATER FRACTION

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycaemia due to impaired insulin secretion or action. Inhibiting carbohydrate- digesting enzymes such as α-amylase and α-glucosidase is a recognized strategy to reduce postprandial glucose spikes. Lonchocarpus cyanescens is a medicinal plant widely used in West African ethnotherapy with reported antidiabetic activity. This study aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of the water fraction of L. cyanescens on α-amylase and α- glucosidase and compare its efficacy with acarbose. The water fraction of L. cyanescens leaves was prepared and tested at concentrations of 0.1–0.5 mg/mL using standard in vitro enzyme inhibition assays, and the results were statistically analysed using one-way ANOVA followed by LSD post hoc tests to compare treatment groups and assess significance relative to acarbose. The water fraction demonstrated concentration-dependent inhibition of both enzymes, with α-amylase inhibition ranging from 76.79% to 89.26% and α- glucosidase inhibition from 36.60% to 61.22% (p < 0.01).