Objective: In today’s world where chronic diseases are increasing, research on effective treatment methods continues. Different methods and drug development studies for treatment continue in a multidisciplinary manner. In order to reduce side effects, natural products are the primary choice and are in the first place in research.
Materials and Methods: The present study was undertaken to study enzyme-inhibiting activity of ethyl acetate and methanol extracts from Trifolium arvense and Medicago lupulina in order to explore these plants for their therapeutic use. Inhibition effects for cholinesterases (acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase), tyrosinase, α-amylase and α-glucosidace tests were performed.
Results: The results showed that the methanol extracts of Medicago lupulina and Trifolium arvense had strong α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with values 568±0.01 mg ACAEs/g extract and 525±4.24 mg ACAEs/g extract. Although both plants showed comparable activity for other enzymes, the ethyl acetate extracts exhibited a slightly higher enzyme inhibition profile than that of methanol extract, especially against α-glucosidase.
Conclusion: The extracts of the plants studied may possess significant therapeutic potential and could be particularly advantageous in the pharmaceutical industry, especially in terms of their inhibition activity on the glucosidase enzyme.