Turmerin, the antioxidant protein from turmeric (Curcuma longa) exhibits antihyperglycaemic effects

Nat Prod Res. 2012;26(17):1654-8. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2011.589386. Epub 2011 Oct 6.

Abstract

A wide range of proteinaceous inhibitors are present in plants to protect themselves from hydrolytic enzymes. In this study, turmerin, a water-soluble peptide in turmeric rhizomes, was evaluated for its inhibitory potential against glucosidase and its antioxidant (AO) capacity. Turmerin inhibited α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities with IC₅₀ values 31 and 192 µg mL⁻¹, respectively. Under the experimental conditions, those values for a standard glucosidase inhibitor, acarbose, were 81 and 296 µg mL⁻¹, respectively. The AO capacity of turmerin was evaluated using in vitro assay systems. Turmerin showed good DPPH (IC₅₀ = 29 µg mL⁻¹) and superoxide (IC₅₀ = 48 µg mL⁻¹) and moderate ABTS (IC₅₀ = 83 µg mL⁻¹) radical scavenging and Fe(II) chelation (IC₅₀ = 101 µg mL⁻¹) capacities. The inhibitory potential showed by turmerin against enzymes linked to type 2 diabetes, as well as its moderate AO capacity, could rationalise the traditional usage of turmeric rhizome preparations against diabetes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / chemistry*
  • Benzothiazoles / chemistry
  • Biphenyl Compounds / chemistry
  • Curcuma / chemistry*
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / chemistry*
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Picrates / chemistry
  • Sulfonic Acids / chemistry
  • Superoxides / chemistry
  • alpha-Amylases / metabolism
  • alpha-Glucosidases / metabolism

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Benzothiazoles
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Peptides
  • Picrates
  • Sulfonic Acids
  • turmerin
  • Superoxides
  • 2,2'-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid
  • 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl
  • alpha-Amylases
  • alpha-Glucosidases