When embryonated and de-embryonated cotyledons of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) were kept for germination, only embryonated cotyledons (EC) developed into seedlings. alpha-Amylase activity appeared late in de-embryonated cotyledons (DEC), but increased and matched with that of EC on 4th day, and thereafter started declining. A higher content of reducing sugars may be one of the factors in down ...

BACK GROUND For enzyme production, the costs of solid state fermentation (SSF) techniques were lower and the production higher than submerged cultures. A large number of fungal species was known to grow well on moist substrates, whereas many bacteria were unable to grow under this condition. Therefore, the aim of this study was to isolate a highly efficient strain of Bacillus sp utilizing wheat...

Considered to be an etiologic factor of acute pancreatitis, hypersecretion of pancreatic juice and digestive enzymes is often associated with hyperbilirubinemia. We explored the intracellular mechanisms through which bilirubin affects pancreatic exocrine secretory function by examining the effect of bilirubin on isolated rat pancreatic acini. Bilirubin stimulated amylase release in a concentrat...

An extracellular alpha-amylase (Amy1) whose gene from Cryptococcus flavus was previously expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was purified to homogeneity (67 kDa) by ion-exchange and molecular exclusion chromatography. The enzyme was activated by NH(4) (+) and inhibited by Cu(+2) and Hg(+2). Significant biochemical and structural discrepancies between wild-type and recombinant α-amylase with r...

The aim of this work was to identify enzymes that participate in the degradation of transitory starch in Arabidopsis. A mutant line was isolated by screening leaves at the end of the night for the presence of starch. The mutant had a higher starch content than the wild-type throughout the diurnal cycle. This accumulation was due to a reduction in starch breakdown, leading to an imbalance betwee...

the therapeutic potential of crude extracts of aerial parts (stem, leaves and flowers) of tridax procumbens was screened for in vitro antioxidant potential and alpha amylase inhibitory action. the crude hydro-methanolic, aqueous and petroleum ether extracts were obtained by percolation-maceration method using 50% methanol, double distilled water and petroleum ether as solvents. phytochemical sc...

Amylase activity in several tissue and body fluid compartments in the rat changed markedly when the secretion of digestive enzyme was augmented over a 3-hr period with a cholinergic agonist. As a result of stimulation, the pancreas was depleted of about one-third of its amylase activity and accounted for only 75% of the amount recovered from the animal, compared to 92% in the fasted state. Desp...

Diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial metabolic disease characterized by post-prandial hyperglycemia (PPHG). α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitors aim to explore novel therapeutic agents. Herein we report the promises of Dioscorea bulbifera and its bioactive principle, diosgenin as novel α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitor. Among petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol and 70% ethanol (v/v)...

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin. Natural alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase inhibitors from food-grade plants offer an attractive strategy to eather manage or prevent type 2 diabetes by controlling of starch breakdown and intestinal glucose absorption. Black tea is the second ...

Oxidative stress plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome including diabetes mellitus (DM). The inhibition of alpha-amylase is an important therapeutic target in the regulation of postprandial increase of blood glucose in diabetic patients. The present study investigated the alpha-amylase inhibitory and antioxidant potential of selected herbal drugs used in the treatme...