INHIBITION OF GLYCOHYDROLASE ENZYMES BY AQUEOUS EXTRACTS OF CHINESE MEDICINAL HERBS IN A MICROPLATE FORMAT

A microplate assay, for use with a variety of glycohydrolase enzymes, was developed to aid the screening of Chinese medicinal herb extracts for the presence of potential anti-viral and anti-lymphoma compounds. The microplate assay method described offers greater convenience, spee d and reproducibility over existing methods. The enzymes tested were a lpha-glucosidase, beta-glucosidase and beta-glucuronidase. The assay c an be easily adapted for use with other glycohydrolase enzymes. Of the 12 herb extracts examined four did not inhibit any of the enzymes (<5 0% inhibition), one inhibited alpha-glucosidase only (>50% inhibition) , six inhibited beta-glucuronidase only, and one inhibited both alpha- glucosidase and beta-glucuronidase. None of the extracts were capable of inhibiting beta-glucosidase to any significant extent.