Phytochemical screening and in vitro amylase inhibitory effect of the leaves of Breynia retusa.

This study was proposed based on the folklore claim and on the scarcity of scientific evidence from the literature for the medicinal uses of Breynia retusa. The aim of the present study was to analyse the phytochemical constituents of the leaves of B. retusa. The fractions obtained by successive fractionation using solvents of varying polarity were studied for the presence of primary and secondary metabolites and the total phenolic content of the different fractions were determined by HPLC. The results of the study support the traditional acclaim of the therapeutic uses of B. retusa. The potential of B. retusa to inhibit alpha-amylase, a prime enzyme involved in carbohydrate metabolism was analysed and it was observed that the ethyl acetate and methanolic extract of the leaves of B. retusa possessed in vitro amylase inhibitory activity.