Abstract

Lindernia crustacea (L.) F. Muell is a small herbaceous plant with several ethnomedicinal values. The present study investigated the phytochemical content and alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory property of Lindernia crustacea. Methanolic crude extract of plant was obtained following the Soxhlet method. The crude extract was studied for alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Phytochemical analysis was carried out using the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technique. Furthermore, docking study was carried out with the phytocompounds to see the binding affinity with the enzymes. In silico drug-likeness and pharmacological properties were also carried out using Swiss absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion, and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity lab tools. The plant extracts showed concentration-dependent inhibition of enzyme activities with half-maximal inhibitory concentration values of 3.11 mg/ml and 548.9 μg/ml for alpha-amylase and alphaglucosidase, respectively. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry study identified ten phytocompounds with molecular weights ranging from 264.4 to 561 g/mol. Docking study showed 1-(4-Hydroxybenzoyl)- 6,7-dimethoxyisoquinoline as the best binding compound with the enzymes. Phytocompounds identified from Lindernia crustacea were predicted to have substantial drug-likeness and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity properties. The enzyme inhibition study and binding interactions of phytocompounds suggest promising alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity of Lindernia crustacea. Therefore, the aerial part of Lindernia crustacea may be further investigated to know the exact mode of biological actions.