This study comparatively evaluated the inhibitory effects of two ethnomedicinal cereals, Panicum sumatrense

and Eleusine coracana, on carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes associated with postprandial hyperglycemia.

Aqueous extracts of the cereals were prepared and tested for their inhibitory activities against α-amylase and α-

glucosidase enzymes at concentrations ranging from 1–5 mg/ml. Acarbose served as the standard reference drug.

The results showed that both extracts exhibited inhibitory activities against α-amylase and α-glucosidase

enzymes in a concentration-dependent manner. For α-amylase inhibition, Panicum sumatrense and Eleusine

coracana showed IC₅₀ values of 3.25 mg/ml and 5.00 mg/ml respectively, while acarbose exhibited a lower IC₅₀

of 1.28 mg/ml. In the α-glucosidase assay, Eleusine coracana demonstrated stronger inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ =

3.87 mg/ml) compared to Panicum sumatrense (IC₅₀ = 4.30 mg/ml), although both were less potent than acarbose

Hyperglycemia results from anomalies in either insulin secretion or insulin action or both and manifests in a

chronic and heterogeneous manner as carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolic dysfunctions. Diabetes follows a

progressive pattern with complex pathogenesis and varied presentation (American Diabetes Association, 2014

Hyperglycemia and its associated carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolic dysfunctions affect multiple organs

of the body and disrupt their normal functioning. These disruptions progress gradually and arise mostly due to

the adverse effects of hyperglycemia and its associated metabolic anomalies on the normal structure and

functioning of micro- and macrovasculature, which lie at the core of organ structure, and function throughout

the body. The structural and functional disruptions in organ system vasculature led to micro- and macrovascular

complications. Organ damage, dysfunction, and, ultimately, organ failure characterizes these complications and

(osteoarthropathy) are often associated with long-term peripheral neuropathy. (American Diabetes Association,

2018; Rawshani et al., 2017). The cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, and coronary heart disease,

together termed as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, are of common occurrence in diabetes and constitute

one of the major causes of diabetes-associated morbidity and mortality. (American Diabetes Association, 2014

& 2018; Rawshani et al., 2017). Several comprehensive reviews have been made on the nutritional, bioactive,

industrial and climate resilient potentials of the lesser grains like small millet and finger millet , their rich

nutritional profiles and their potentials to act as nutraceutical and functional foods that may be used to address

malnutrition and food insecurity have been highlighted. Most of these wellness advantages are due to the dietary

fibres, polyphenols especially phenolic acids and tannins (Simardeep Kaur et al., 2024) 81% of polyphenols in

finger millet for instance is made up of benzois derivatives, flavonoids, cinnamic acids, phytates, phenols and

on the nutritional and phytochemical components of these millets, their is sparsity of information as to how these

bioctive compound rich foods can be harnessed for the prevention, management or treatment of type II Diabetes

. The root cause of Diabetes is inflammation which is often precipitated or aggravated by the perpetually raised

blood sugar levels found in type II Diabetes patients. The constant blood sugar spikes experienced in this

condition is also a factor that worsens both insulin resistance and the inflammatory response. Developing diabetic

diets which will not only eliminate blood sugar spikes but also provide the additional benefits attending to the

root cause of the disease, which is chronic inflammation could provide brake through answers to the question of

development of natural approach to the prevention and treatment of type II Diabetes through reversal of insulin

resistance and the inflammatory markers.Panicum sumatrense, small millet helps to keep blood sugar levels

stable for a long time in diabetic patients. It is also helpful for diabetes patients because it has a comparatively

The fresh plant of Panicum sumatrense and Eleusine coracana, was collected from local markets in Anambra

State. The taxonomic identity of the plant was determined by a qualified plant taxonomist at the laboratory of

Applied Biochemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. The plant was washed 2 to 3 times with running tap

Cold methanol extracts of ground plant materials were prepared as follows: 200 grams of the dried grain powder

of plant materials were soaked separately in methanol for 10 days, and then filtered. The extracts were

drug) to inhibit the enzymatic breakdown of starch into reducing sugars. Alpha amylase catalyzes the hydrolysis

of α 1,4-glycosidic bonds in polysaccharides (starch, glycogen), producing maltose and glucose. The released

reducing sugars react with 3,5-Dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) under alkaline conditions forming a red orange colour

Three set of tubes were labeled control, extract and standard. To the extract tubes, 100µl of 0.005% alpha

amylase, 25µl of extract (1-5mg/ml concentrations) and 100µl of 1% starch solutions were mixed. In the control

The standard tubes contained 100µl of 0.005% alpha amylase, 25µl of acarbose (1-5mg/ml) and 100µl of 1%

starch solution. These were incubated at 37°c for 10 minutes and the reaction stopped by addition of 250µl of

DNS. The tubes were then heated for 5-10 minutes at 100°c for colour development and then diluted by addition

of 2.5ml of phosphate buffer (or distilled water). The absorbance was then read at 540nm and percentage

measuring the ability of a test compound or extract to inhibit the enzyme alpha glucosidase, which catalyzes the

In the assay, the enzyme acts on a synthetic substrate usually p-nitrophenylphosphate-α-D-glucopyranoside

(pNPG), instead of a natural carbohydrate. The intensity of the yellow color measured at 405nm is proportional

Three set of tubes were labeled control, extract and standard. To the extract tubes, 500µl of 0.1U/ml α-

glucosidase in 0.1M phosphate buffer (pH 6.8), 100µl of extract (1-5mg/ml) and 200µl of 0.1M phosphate buffer

(pH 6.8). In the control tubes (Blank), 500µl of 0.1U/ml α-glucosidase in 0.1M phosphate buffer (pH 6.8), 100µl

All experiments were carried out in triplicate, and results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD).

Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine significant differences among

the extracts and the standard drug at different concentrations. The IC₅₀ values were estimated from

1. The inhibition ranged from 39.47% to 60.18%. The highest inhibition occurred at 2 mg/ml (60.18%), while

the lowest occurred at 3 mg/ml (39.47%). The IC₅₀ value obtained was 3.25 mg/ml, indicating a moderate

In Table 1, Eleusine coracana extract demonstrated comparatively higher inhibitory activity with inhibition

values ranging from 54.91% to 71.23%. The highest inhibition occurred at 5 mg/ml (71.23%), suggesting

stronger enzyme inhibition at higher concentrations. However, the IC₅₀ value was 5.00 mg/ml, indicating a

The standard drug acarbose showed the highest inhibition across all concentrations (72.69% – 79.47%). Its IC₅₀

The inhibitory potential of Panicum sumatrense and Eleusine coracana extracts against two carbohydrate-

hydrolyzing enzymes, α-amylase and α-glucosidase, which are involved in the digestion of dietary

carbohydrates. Inhibition of these enzymes is an effective therapeutic approach for controlling postprandial

The results obtained in the α-amylase assay revealed that both plant extracts exhibited significant enzyme

inhibitory activity. Eleusine coracana showed higher percentage inhibition at higher concentrations compared to

Panicum sumatrense. However, the IC₅₀ value of Panicum sumatrense (3.25 mg/ml) was lower than that of

Eleusine coracana (5.00 mg/ml), suggesting that Panicum sumatrense possesses relatively stronger inhibitory

potency against α-amylase. This is reflected in the higher inhibition activity (60.18%) that P. sumatranse showed

at 1.00mg/ml concentration compared with Eleusine coracana. It is quite possible that the percentage inhibitory

intestine.The fluctuations in the glucosidase inhibition levels observed at 5.00mg/ml concentration for P.

Sumatranse and at 2mg/ml concentration for E. Coracana may be attributed to technical errors in handling.

Phenolic compounds of finger millet have been recognized as effective inhibitors of α-amylase and α-glucosidase

enzymes. In addition, by inhibiting the protein glycation process, the key molecular basis of diabetic

complications, phenolic compounds help in the prevention of diabetic complications (Mathanghi and Sudha,

The observed enzyme inhibitory activities may be attributed to the presence of phytochemicals such as

polyphenols, flavonoids, and other bioactive compounds commonly found in these cereals. These compounds

are known to interact with carbohydrate-digesting enzymes, thereby reducing glucose release and absorption.

This may explain the reason why incidence of diabetes is rare among the populations that consumes small millet

than that of acarbose, the standard antidiabetic drug. This suggest that intake of the cereals will not precipitate

sudden decline in blood glucose levels and that they may be freely included as part of the diabetics menu without

the fear of precipitation of hypoglycaemia. This difference is expected since acarbose is a purified

This study demonstrated that the extracts of Panicum sumatrense and Eleusine coracana possess inhibitory

effects against α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. Both extracts exhibited moderate enzyme inhibitory

activities, although their potency was lower than the standard drug acarbose. Among the two cereals studied,

Panicum sumatrense showed stronger α-amylase inhibition, while Eleusine coracana exhibited better α-

glucosidase inhibitory activity. These findings indicate that the studied ethnomedicinal cereals may contribute

to the management of diabetes mellitus by reducing carbohydrate digestion and glucose absorption. Further

studies are recommended to isolate and characterize the specific bioactive compounds responsible for these

Cereal formulations containing both grains may be formulated and marketed as a diet that will help maintain

and alpha glucosidase inhibition which may help eliminate the very much undesirable blood glucose spikes