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Antioxidant constituents in the dayflower (Commelina communis L.) and their α-glucosidase-inhibitory activity

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Abstract

The dayflower, Commelina communis L., contains 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) and (2R,3R,4R,5R)2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)-3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidine (DMDP), potent α-glucosidase inhibitors. The extracts and powder of this herb are important food materials for prophylaxis against type 2 diabetes. Eleven flavonoid glycosides as antioxidants, isoquercitrin, isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-β-d-glucoside, glucoluteolin, chrysoriol-7-O-β-d-glucoside, orientin, vitexin, isoorientin, isovitexin, swertisin, and flavocommelin, were identified from the aerial parts of C. communis. Their antioxidant activities were measured using in vitro assays employing the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical- and superoxide radical-scavenging assays. The results showed that glucoluteolin, orientin, isoorientin, and isoquercitrin are the predominant antioxidants in this herb. Moreover, isoquercitrin, isorhamnetine-3-O-rutinoside, vitexin, and swertisin inhibited the activity of α-glucosidase from rat intestine.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant from Kusatsu City, Shiga, Japan. We are grateful to Dr. K. Minoura for 500-MHz NMR spectral measurements and to Mrs. M. Fujitake for mass spectral measurements at the Osaka University of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Osaka University of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 4-20-1 Nasahara, Takatsuki, Osaka, 569-1094, Japan

    Makio Shibano, Masahiko Taniguchi, Masahide Yasuda & Kimiye Baba

  2. Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Institute, Kinki University, 3-4-1 Kowakae Higashiosaka, Osaka, 577-8502, Japan

    Koji Kakutani

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  1. Makio Shibano
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  2. Koji Kakutani
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  3. Masahiko Taniguchi
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  4. Masahide Yasuda
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  5. Kimiye Baba
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Correspondence to Makio Shibano.

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Shibano, M., Kakutani, K., Taniguchi, M. et al. Antioxidant constituents in the dayflower (Commelina communis L.) and their α-glucosidase-inhibitory activity. J Nat Med 62, 349–353 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-008-0244-1

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