Structure Activity Relationships of Flavonoids as Potent α-Amylase Inhibitors

The effects of three flavonoids (quercetin, luteolin, diosmetin) on α-amylase were examined by enzymatic kinetics and fluorescence spectroscopy. The three test flavonoids were non-competitive inhibitors of the enzyme. Addition of flavonoids led to fluorescence quenching of α-amylase. The quenching was initiated from the formation of a complex between the flavonoids and the enzyme, corresponding to a static quenching process. An α-amylase molecule provides a binding site for the test flavonoid. The main binding force was hydrophobic. The decreasing order of inhibition of α-amylase by flavonoids and the binding force was luteolin, diosmetin, and quercetin. It is demonstrated that hydroxylation in ring C and methylation of the hydroxyl group in ring B of flavonoids may weaken the binding affinities to α-amylase.