Evaluation of inhibitory effect of the Abelmoschus esculentus flavonoid extract on digestive enzymes of citrus brown snail

Abstract Objective: In this study, we extracted the flavonoid contents of Abelmoschus esculentus L. as the main bioactive components in the okra plant. Then, an ultraviolet colorimetric method and a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were applied to measure the total flavonoid content of okra extract. Materials and methods: the inhibitory effect of okra extract on α-amylase and α-glucosidase was evaluated on the digestive enzymes from citrus brown snail (Caucasotachea lencoranea). Results: The results showed high content of rutin, chlorogenic acid, and catechin with remarkable inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase and α-amylase. Conclusion: Thus, studies related to an identifying the bioactive compounds and correlating them to their biological activities are beneficial for further research to explore the potential of A. esculentus as a source of therapeutic flavonoids.