약용식물 23종 메탄올 추출물의 폴리페놀 함량을 측정한 후 항산화 활성을 측정하고, 항당뇨 활성으로는 α-amylase 저해 활성, α-glucosidase 저해 활성을 검정하여 혈당강하 활성을 나타낼 수 있는 약용식물을 선발하고자 한다. 약용식물의 폴리페놀 함량을 분석한 결과 1.50~15.25 mg GAE/g의 다양한 함량 범위로 나타났으며 가장 높은 함량은 주목열매(15.25 mg GAE/g), 화살나무줄기(15.12 mg GAE/g), 두충잎(14.24 mg GAE/g)으로 3종이 나타났다. 60% 이상 DPPH 라디칼 소거능을 본 약용식물로는 두충 줄기수피(80.10%), 구기자나무 뿌리(64.25%), 화살나무 줄기(73.59%), 비수리(78.20%), 주목열매(70.52%), 뽕잎나무 잎줄기(67.81%) 부위 추출물로 6종이 선발되었다. α-Glucosidase를 80% 이상 저해한 약용소재로는 두충 줄기심재, 두충 줄기수피, 화살나무 줄기, 마, 율무, 녹두 6종이 선발되었다. α-Amylase를 80% 이상 저해한 약용식물로는 칡뿌리, 두충 줄기수피, 두충잎, 구기자 열매, 화살나무 잎줄기, 화살나무 줄기, 조릿대 지상부, 마, 뽕잎나무 잎줄기 추출물 등 9종이 선발되었다. 항산화 및 항당뇨 활성이 우수했던 약용식물들은 향후 새로운 의약품 개발 및 성인병 예방의 건강기능식품으로 개발하는 데 있어 좋은 기초자료로 활용될 것으로 기대된다.
The purpose of this study was to measure total phenolic compounds as a measure of antioxidant activity as well as α-amylase inhibitory and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities as a measure of anti-diabetic efficacy in methanol extracts from 23 kinds of medicinal plants. Extracts of three medicinal plant species showing high total polyphenol contents were selected (Euonymus alatus stem, Taxus cuspidata fruit, and Eucommia ulmoides leaf). Extracts of six medicinal plant species showing over 60% DPPH radical scavenging activity were also selected [Eucommia ulmoides barks (80.10%), Lycium chinense roots (64.25%), Euonymus alatus stem (73.59%), Lespedeza cuneata (78.20%), Taxus cuspidata fruits (70.52%), and Tilia taquetii leaf and stem (67.81%)]. Regarding α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities acarbose showing approximately 80% inhibitory activity was selected as a control group, and six species (Eucommia ulmoides heartwood, Eucommia ulmoides bark, Euonymus alatus stem, Dioscorea batatas, Coix lachryma-jobi, and Phaseolus radiatus) showed greater than 80% α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Extracts of nine medicinal plant. species showing over 80% α-amylase inhibitory activity (Pueraria thunbergiana root, Eucommia ulmoides bark, Eucommia ulmoides leaf, Lycium chinense fruits, Euonymus alatus leaf and stem, Euonymus alatus stem, Sasa borealis whole, Dioscorea batatas leaf and stem, and Tilia taquetii leaf and stem). Based on these results, medicinal plants showing high antioxidant and antidiabetic activities can be used as fundamental products in developing new medicines, as well as functional foods to prevent adult disease.