After a mixed carbohydrate diet, inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase involved in the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates can significantly decrease the postprandial increase of blood glucose level. In the course of screening these useful enzyme inhibitors, we selected five kinds of bean, using an in-vitro enzyme inhibition assay method. To evaluate the effect of germination process on the functionality of the bean, we investigated the inhibitory activities of the water extracts of non-germinated bean and germinated bean against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, relevant to postprandial hyperglycemia. We also investigated the oxygen radical absorbance capacity(ORAC), total phenolics content, and postprandial blood glucose lowering effect in rats(Sprague-Dawley rat model). Most germinated beans showed significantly higher α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, compared with non-germinated beans. Among germinated beans, Glycine max had the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity(53.3%). The water extract of germinated Phaseolus vulgaris L. had the highest α-amylase inhibitory activity(95.1%), followed by Glycine max(58.7%), and Glycine max L. Merr(54.1%). Furthermore, the five germinated beans also showed high antioxidant activities in ORAC assay. Results suggested that the germination process may improve and enhance the anti-hyperglycemia potential and antioxidant activity of the bean.

Guava (Psidium guajava) contain a great deal of polyphenol compound and work on the treatment of Diabetes mellitus effectively. In this study, the bioactivities of aqueous extract (GLEx) of guava leaf were investigated. Total phenolic contents of GLEx was 266.9 mg tan/g. The effects of GLEx on digestive enzymes, α-amylase, maltase and sucrase were investigated. IC50 values of GLEx against α-amylase, maltase and sucrase were 0.65 mg/ml, 2.0 mg/ml and 3.5 mg/ml respectively. The effect of GLEx on oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed in normal ICR mouse, control (dstilled water) and GLEx (aqueous extract of Guava leaf) were co-administered orally with glucose, showed reducing effect on the blood glucose level. The guava is likely to useful for prevention or improvement of hyperglycemia by lowering the blood glucose level and inhibiting glycoside hydrolase activity.