Inhibitory Activity against Alpha-Glucosidase Aquilaria leaves contain eight alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (Feng et al. 2011). The ethyl acetate fraction of the plant Aquilaria Sinensis, which is also in the Aquilaria Aceae family, has been shown to inhibit alpha-glucosidase enzyme activity and lower intestinal glucose uptake. A. Sinensis reduced the incidence of postprandial hyperglycemia in normal and diabetic mice (Abid et al., 2014).These findings suggest that constituents in Aquilariaceae plants could be promising candidates for developing anti-diabetic therapeutics. Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms by which these compounds act to inhibit alpha-glucosidase activity and improve glycemic control.
According to Khalil on a “Characterization of Methanolic Extracts of Agarwood Leaves”, Agarwood leaves contain:
- Alkaloids in Agarwood leaves extracts were of great importance since significant quantities of alkaloids could be used as antimalarial, analgesics, antispasmodic, bactericidal and stimulants, which are all pharmaceutical properties of the plant. The presence of alkaloids in Agarwood leaves extracts justifies the use of the plant to treat a toothache, colic, severe headache, and rheumatism.
- The presence of Hexadecanoic acid could justify the use of Agarwood leaves methanolic extracts as antibacterial and anti-fungal
- Saponin has the property of precipitating and coagulating red blood cells
- The presence of tannins suggests the ability of this plant to play a major role as an antidiarrhoeic and antihaemorrhagic agent
- Tannins are astringent in nature, i.e., fasten the healing of wounds and inflamed mucous membranes and could be used for treating intestinal disorders such as diarrhoea and dysentery exhibiting antibacterial activity
- Tannins are astringent in nature, i.e., fasten the healing of wounds and inflamed mucous membranes and could be used for treating intestinal disorders such as diarrhoea and dysentery exhibiting antibacterial activity