Analysis of apigenin in Blumea balsamifera Linn DC. and its inhibitory activity against aldose reductase in rat lens

Abstract

To investigate the therapeutic potentials of na- tural sources, stepwise polarity fractions of Blumea balsamifera were tested for their ability to inhibit aldose reductase (AR) activity in rat lenses. Of these, the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction exhibited a unique AR inhibitory activity (IC50 value, 0.11 μg/mL). Apigenin was identified from the active EtOAc fraction and exhibited high AR inhibitory activity (IC50 value, 4.03 μM). The content of apigenin was measured in B. balsamifera (0.47 mg/g) by HPLC/UV analysis. Our result suggests that B. balsamifera could be a useful natural source for the development of a novel AR inhibitory agent against diabetic complications.