In vitro Gastro-intestinal digestion of combined Zingiber officinale and Terminalia chebula associated with Antioxidant capacity and α-Glucosidase Inhibition

The rhizome of Zingiber officinale and the fruit of Terminalia chebula are widely used in traditional foods and medicines. This particular combination holds great significance in most ayurvedic formulations. However, studies on the bioaccessibility of this combination are yet to be elucidated. Thus in the present study, we aimed to evaluate the polyphenolic content, antioxidant activity and α-glucosidase inhibition before and after gastrointestinal digestion. The bioaccessible fraction of total phenolic and flavonoid contents after intestinal digestion was found to be 46% and 33% respectively. Quantification of individual bioactive compounds present in the extract (6-shogaol, gallic acid, ellagic acid, corialgin, chebulinic acid, and chebulagic acid) was estimated by high-performance liquid chromatography. The antioxidant capacity was increased and the inhibition of αglucosidase was reduced after intestinal digestion when compared to gastric digestion. Overall, the results indicated the bioaccessibility of polyphenols after gastro-intestinal digestion and its bioactivity, which needs to be further studied to understand the stability of bioactive compounds. This finding is valuable for food technologists and alternative medicine practitioners to lay the foundation to know the effects and bioactivity of foods and herbs upon gastro-intestinal digestion.