Abstract:
Bioactive compounds entrapped in plant materials can be effectively recovered
using fungal enzymes. Cinnamomum zeylanicum Sri Wijaya (SW) and Sri
Gemunu (SG) accessions and commercially available C. zeylanicum (CC) were
subjected to fungal pretreatment and extracted with pressured water (PWE,
0 098 MPa). Thirteen fungal species were isolated and the substrate utilization
ability of the species was tested using cellulose, pectin and lignin (indirectly).
Total phenolic content (TPC, Folin–Ciocalteu method), proanthocyanidin
content (PC, vanillin method) and α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory
potential of the extracts were evaluated. The anti-diabetic drug, Acarbose was
used as the positive control. Trichoderma harzianum (MH298760) showed the
highest cell lysis ability and hence was used for the microbial pretreatment
process. Extracts of SW treated with T. harzianum species (Pre-SW) gave the
highest percentage yield (4 08% 0 15%), significantly potent inhibition
(P < 0 05) of α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities (IC50 57 8 and
36 8 μg ml−1 respectively), TPC (2 24 0 02 mg gallic acid equivalent g−1),
and PC (48 2 0 4 mg of catechin equivalent g−1) compared to Pre-SG, Pre-
CC and nontreated samples. Trichoderma harzianum treatment can enhance
the hypoglycaemic properties, PC and TPC of Cinnamon extracts and provide
new insights into the recovery of phytochemicals.
