The investigation of in vitro antioxidant and inhibition properties on some enzyme activities of Medicago murex Var. murex'in (Fabaceae)

Most of the Medicago species are considered as good quality froge crops due to their protein rich content. Cultivated species are farmed extensively in commonly animal husbandry areas. In this study, antioxidant properties, total phenolic and flavonoid contents and enzyme inhibitions of methanol, ethyl acetate and water extracts of Medicago murex var. murex were determined. The antioxidant activities of the different extracts were evaluated using iron (FRAP) and copper ions (CUPRAC) reduction methods. Total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were determined by folin method and AlCl3 method, respectively. The enzyme inhibition activities were tested against to acetylcholinesterase, α-amylase, α-glucosidase and tyrosinase enzymes. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of different extracts were determined between 83.70-163.93 mg GAE/g extract and 24.48-26.05 μg QE/g extract. Water and ethylacetate extracts were the most active extracts in ferric and cupric ion reducing power methods, respectively. While the water extract was the best inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase enzyme, ethyl acetate extract was are the best inhibitors for studied other enzymes (α-amylase, α-glucosidase and tyrosinase). Considering the findings, Medicago murex var. murex can appear to be an important source of natural antioxidants and enzyme inhibitors and it can think as useful for the food and pharmaceutical industries.