Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) extract as well as(+)-secoisolaric- iresinol diglucoside and its mammalian derivatives are potent inhibitors of a-amylase activity.

Key Findings:

Hyperglycemia, impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance and hyper lipidemia characterize Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The intestinal enyzmes alpha glucosidase  and pancreatic alpha amylase are involved in postprandial hyperglycemia typical of T2DM. Inhibitors of the action of these enzymes are a therapeutic goal to provide a delay of postprandial hyperglycemia and to have a beneficial effect on insulin resistance and glycemic index control. In this study, an extract derived from flaxseed hull (FSE) was tested for a potential inhibitory effect on a-glucosidase and a-amylase activities in order to determine a mechanism responsible for the hypoglycemic effect of flaxseed and its derivatives. FSE was able to inhibit both soluble a-glucosidase and a-amylase in a dose dependent way.  Using  immobilized a-glucosidase, a loss of 30 percent  in the inhibitory capacity of FSE was noted. The hypoglycemic effects of flax seed may be in part through decreasing the activity of pancreatic a-amylase.

ABSTRACT:

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the common global diseases. Flaxseed is by far the richest source of the dietary lignans (i.e. secoisolariciresinol diglucoside)which have been shown to delay the development of T2DM in animal models.  Herein, we propose the first evidences for a mechanism of action involving the inhibition of the pancreatic alpha amylase by flaxseed-derived lignans that could therefore constitute a promising nutraceutical for the prevention and the treatment of T2DM. (Authors Abstract)