Alpha-amylase Inhibitory Activity of Sembung Stem Extract (Blumea balsamifera L.) as an Antidiabetic Agent Ratih Aryani, Umi Yuniarni, Bertha Rusdi, Tarisa Perolin
Universitas Islam Bandung
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a degenerative disease caused by chronic metabolic disorders, characterized by hyperglycemia. This condition is typically triggered by decreased tissue sensitivity to insulin, which can lead to various progressive and multifactorial systemic complications. One strategy to control hyperglycemia is to inhibit carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes, such as alpha-amylase, thereby managing postprandial blood glucose spikes. The stem of sembung (Blumea balsamifera L.) is known to contain secondary metabolites with potential antidiabetic properties. This study aimed to determine the alpha-amylase inhibitory activity of sembung stem extract using the DNS (3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid) method. The extract was obtained through maceration using 96% ethanol as the solvent, followed by in vitro evaluation of alpha-amylase inhibitory activity by determining the IC₅-₀- value, with acarbose used as the reference standard. The results showed that the ethanolic extract of sembung stem had an IC50 value of 232.68 ppm (weak category), while acarbose exhibited an IC50 value of 4.33 ppm (very strong category). Although its activity was lower than acarbose, the sembung stem extract demonstrated potential as an antidiabetic agent through alpha-amylase inhibition.
