Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate α-amylase inhibitory effects of
hydroethanolic extracts of bark from Daniella oliveri, Sclerocarya birrea, Maranthes polyandra, and
Pteleopsis suberosa to fight type-II diabetes. Methods: Compound extractions were performed by
hydroethanol maceration followed by liquid-liquid fractionation with solvents. TLC profiling was
carried out with different fractions. The inhibitory effects of plant extracts on α-amylase activity
were determined using rice starch as a substrate. Results: TLC profiling of different fractions showed
different phytochemical compounds. The hydroethanolic plant extracts exhibited dose-dependent
inhibition of α-amylase. D. oliveri displayed competitive inhibition, M. polyandra and S. birrea showed
uncompetitive inhibition and Pteleopsis suberosa exerted mixed-inhibition. M. polyandra extract exerted
the highest inhibitory effect (IC50 = 0.5 mg/mL). Conclusions: The barks of M. polyandra exhibit a
remarkable α-amylase inhibitory effect which can be a novel source of antidiabetic molecules.

phenolic compounds, ,α-amylase inhibition, ,Sclerocarya birrea, ,Maranthes polyandra, ,Daniella oliveri