# Evaluation of toxicity and anti-amylase activity of 7, 8 dihydroxy coumarin (Daphnetin), a novel α-amylase blocker in vitro and in vivo

## TL;DR

This study shows that daphnetin, a natural compound, blocks enzymes that break down starch and does so safely in mice.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates that daphnetin is a competitive inhibitor of α-amylases and α-glucosidase both in vitro and in vivo.

## Key findings

- Daphnetin competitively inhibits salivary and pancreatic α-amylases and α-glucosidase in vitro.
- Daphnetin's anti-amylase effect in vivo was confirmed using an oral starch tolerance test.
- Daphnetin showed no adverse effects on liver, kidney, or small intestine in mice.

## Abstract

Management of postprandial blood glucose is a measure in regulating the blood sugar concentration. This paper evaluates the anti-amylase property of a natural compound 7,8 dihydroxycoumarin (daphnetin) both in vitro and in vivo. The inhibitory effect of daphnetin was evaluated against salivary (HSA) and pancreatic α-amylases (PPA) and α-glucosidase (AG) in vitro. Enzyme kinetics studies revealed that the inhibition of HSA, PPA and AG by daphnetin was competitive in nature. Pretreatment with daphnetin was found to inhibit the amylases in vivo as confirmed by the oral starch tolerance test (OSTT). No adverse effect of daphnetin was observed on serum markers and organs like liver, kidney and small intestine. The impact of the inhibitory effect of daphnetin in in vivo was comparable to the positive control, acarbose in all aspects.

•7,8 dihydroxycoumarin or Daphnetin inhibits α-amylases and α-glucosidase in vitro.•The inhibition of the enzymes by daphnetin was competitive in nature.•Oral starch tolerance test confirmed anti-amylase property of daphnetin in vivo.•Administration of daphnetin for 7 days had no adverse effect on the mice.•The results were comparable to acarbose, the positive control.

7,8 dihydroxycoumarin or Daphnetin inhibits α-amylases and α-glucosidase in vitro.

The inhibition of the enzymes by daphnetin was competitive in nature.

Oral starch tolerance test confirmed anti-amylase property of daphnetin in vivo.

Administration of daphnetin for 7 days had no adverse effect on the mice.

The results were comparable to acarbose, the positive control.