comparative in vitro analysis and inhibition kinetics of vernonia amygdalina chloroform extract as a potent dual inhibitor of α-amylase and α-glucosidase for the management of diabetes and obesity

Background: the global burden of diabetes and obesity requires new treatments. this study investigated the chloroform extract of vernonia amygdalina as a natural alternative to acarbose, a standard drug for managing post-meal blood sugar that often causes side effects. objectives: we measured the extract's ability to inhibit key carbohydrate-digesting enzymes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) in vitro, determined its potency (ic₅₀), and analyzed its mechanism of action compared to acarbose.methods: this study evaluated the in vitro inhibitory activity of a chloroform extract of v. amygdalina leaves against α-amylase and α-glucosidase using spectrophotometric assays. the inhibitory potency was quantified by ic₅₀ values and compared to acarbose. enzyme kinetics were analyzed via lineweaver-burk plots to determine the mechanism of inhibition.results: the chloroform extract exhibited significantly stronger inhibition of both enzymes compared to acarbose. at 1 mg/ml, it inhibited α-amylase by 76.4% (acarbose: 62.8%) and α-glucosidase by 62.5% (acarbose: 46.9%). the ic₅₀ values further confirmed its superior potency, with values of 0.24 mg/ml for α-amylase (acarbose: 0.49 mg/ml) and 0.50 mg/ml for α-glucosidase (acarbose: 1.01 mg/ml). kinetic analysis revealed a competitive inhibition mechanism for α-glucosidase, characterized by an increased michaelis constant (kₘ) and unchanged maximum velocity (vₘₐₓ), indicating direct binding of bioactive compounds to the enzyme’s active site.conclusions: the chloroform extract of v. amygdalina is a highly potent, competitive dual inhibitor of α-amylase and α-glucosidase, outperforming acarbose. its efficacy, coupled with a defined mechanism of action, supports its traditional use and highlights its potential as a natural therapeutic agent for managing postprandial hyperglycemia in diabetes and obesity. future studies should focus on isolating active compounds and validating these findings in in vivo models.