Abstract: Objectives: To study the potential effects of the ethanol extract and its three solvent fractions from the fruit hull of Camellia oleifera Abel on alpha-glucosidase activity and antioxidant functions in ICR mice with diabetes. Method: For the evaluation of anti-alpha-glucosidase effect, a microquantity enzyme reaction system in vitro was constructed using acarbose as control. Streptozotocin was used to induce diabetes in mice. Four test samples were intrasgatrically administered to mice for 2 successive weeks at low (150 mg/kg), moderate (300 mg/kg) and high doses(600 mg/kg). Results: The ethanol extract and its three solvent fractions had a noticeable inhibitory effect on alpha-glucosidase activity and were superior to the control acarbose. Compared to the model control group, the ethanol extract resulted in a significant increase in the activities of SOD and GSH-PX and a decrease in the level of MDA in mouse liver. Conclusions: The ethanol extract and its three solvent fractions capable of remarkably inhibiting alpha-glucosidase activity are all potential hypoglycemic factors and have the ability to improve antioxidant functions in diabetic mice.

Key words: Camellia oleifera Abel fruit hull, ethanol extract and its fractions, alpha-glucosidase, inhibition, diabetes, antioxidant function