Background:Diabetes mellitus is the most common and fastest growing disease in the world. One of the therapies to treat diabetes is the inhibition of α-amylase activity by inhibitors from microbial and plant source. Actinomycetes are potential sources of enzyme inhibitors, drugs, amino acids, vitamins etc.Objective:Our work mainly highlights the isolation of actinomycetes from soil samples of different habitats and screening of α -amylase inhibitors.Methods:Actinomycetes were isolated from soil samples of different habitats by different methods; these include a variety of pre-treatment of soil samples in combination with an appropriate supplement medium with selective antibacterial agents. Isolated actinomycetes grown in fermentation condition and metabolites were extracted with Isopropyl alcohol and concentrated to obtain solid material. The extract of each isolate was tested for α -amylase inhibition using starch Iodine plate method and DNS- spectroscopic method.Results:Total 110 actinomycetes strains were isolated from various sources. Among 110 extracts of actinomycetes, eight extracts have shown positive results for α-amylase inhibition in starch Iodine plate assay method. Extracts selected from primary results were used for the confirmation of inhibitory activity using DNS- spectroscopic method. Out of eight extracts, six extracts showed Porcine pancreatic α -amylase inhibitory activity ranging from 40-86%. The actinomycetes strains that produce α -amylase inhibitory activity are A-24, A-29, B-5, B-18, C-15 and D-24.Conclusion:These results show that actinomycetes are a potential source for α -amylase inhibitors, which may lead to valuable novel drugs for diabetic treatment.
