Epidemiological studies show an increased incidence of metabolic diseases in both younger and older populations, with inadequate nutrition cited as one of the causes. In order to contribute to the reduction of this phenomenon, our study investigaed the antioxidant activity and inhibition of the enzyme α-amylase (antidiabetic activity) of extracts of root peels and young shoots of Japanese (Fallopia japonica), Sakhalin (F. sachalinensis) and Bohemian (F. × bohemica) knotweed. We were interested in how extracts from root peels and young shoots differ according to the knotweed species and year of harvest. Ethanol extracts were prepared and their antioxidant activity (AOU) was evaluated in vitro with DPPH• radicals and in vivo by measuring the intracellular oxidation level in Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cells. In addition, antidiabetic activity was also evaluated. We found that extracts from root peels had higher AOU in vitro than extracts from young shoots. Based on the in vivo AOU results, we found that there were no differences between knotweed species and years of harvest in extracts from root peels. Extracts from young shoots showed, on average, a lower level of intracellular oxidation among knotweed species, according to the control compared to extracts from root peels. Regarding the antidiabetic activity of the knotweed species, it can be observed that the extracts of Japanese and Sakhalin knotweed were the most effective at the lowest concentration tested (0.01 mg/mL). The research results could therefore contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies in the fight against metabolic diseases.
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