Working Mechanism of Alpha-Amylase Inhibitor

Alpha amylase consists of an active site, made of three acidic amino acids -

GLU-233, ASP-197, and ASP-300. The inhibitor binds to the active site thus

leaving no space for the starch to bind, thus interrupting the breakdown of

starch.

Types of Alpha-Amylases:

❖ Salivary Amylase: Found in human saliva, this enzyme begins the

digestion of starch in the mouth, breaking it down into smaller

carbohydrates like maltose.

❖ Pancreatic Amylase: Produced in the pancreas, this enzyme is released

into the small intestine to continue the breakdown of starch into simpler

sugars.

❖ Microbial Amylase: Produced by microorganisms like bacteria and

fungi, this enzyme is used in various industrial applications20.

For the study of Antidiabetics using Flavanones two Human alpha-Amylases

were chosen:

➔ Salivary alpha-amylase (SAA)

➔ Pancreatic alpha-amylase

LM World