| Abstract: | This study was designed to determine the inhibitory effects of pheophorbide A on carbohydrate digesting enzymes and its ability to improve postprandial hyperglycemia in streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetic mice. Pheophorbide A caused noticeable inhibitory effects on α‐glucosidase and α‐amylase, with half‐maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of 80.65 ± 5.90 and 76.48 ± 6.31 μM, respectively. The pheophorbide‐mediated inhibition of α‐glucosidase and α‐amylase was significantly more effective than that of the positive control, acarbose. The increase in postprandial blood glucose levels was more significantly suppressed in the pheophorbide A group than in the control group of STZ‐induced diabetic mice. In addition, the area under the curve was decreased by pheophorbide A intake in STZ‐induced diabetic mice. Our results suggested that pheophorbide A may help to improve postprandial hyperglycemia by inhibiting the activity of carbohydrate digesting enzymes. |
