Phytochemical composition, in vitro urease, α-glucosidase and phosphodiesterase inhibatroy potency of Syzygium cumini (Jamun) fruits

Syzygium cumini L. (Jamun) is a Pakistani indigenous plant, which exhibits various diseases biological activities including antidiabetic, antiulcer, hepatoprotective, and even diuretic. The present work was carried out to provide a scientific justification to its use in folk medicine. In the current research work, the crude methanol extract and subsequent fractions of S. cumini fruits were subjected to phytochemical studies, along with urease, α-glucosidase, and phosphodiesterase inhibition profiling. Results showed that the plant is a rich source of various classes of compounds such as alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids, carbohydrates, phenols, glycosides, saponins, and tannins. In addition, results indicated that the crude extract and fractions significantly inhibit the aforementioned enzymes at tested concentrations. The observed urease inhibitory activity (IC50 values) of methanol, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and chloroform were 10.17 ± 1.00, 7.09 ± 2.00, 8.32 ± 1.76, and 12.23 ± 1.09 µg, respectively. Similarly, the crude methanol extract, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and n-butanol factions exhibited significant α-glucosidase inhibitory potential with IC50 values of 129.98 ± 1.23, 702.74 ± 1.65, 430.21 ± 1.98, and 650.11 ± 1 0.00 µg, respectively, as compared to the standard. On the other hand, the ethyl acetate and n-butanol factions showed excellent phosphodiesterase inhibitory effect with IC50 values of 270.77 ± 1.98 and 87.09 µg, respectively. The antagonistic effect of these samples is attributed to the presence of different phytochemicals. Moreover, the inhibition of these enzymes provided a sound scientific backup to the mentioned folklores.