Hypoglycemic and antioxidant effects of oral treatment of Verbesina montanoifolia extract in diabetic rats.

Diabetes is a chronic disease associated with high oxidative stress and inflammation due to hyperglycemia[ ¹ ] ^, [ ² ]. Medicinal plants constitute an alternative source of potential therapeutic agents for diabetes. Verbesina montanoifolia (VM), a shrub native to Mexico, is used in Mexican traditional medicine to treat different illnesses. However; there are no reports worldwide on the components or the activity of this plant to treat diabetes.

To evaluate the effects of Capitaneja (Verbesina montanoifolia) on blood glucose levels and antioxidant enzymes in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic Wistar rats.

Acute administration of VM aqueous extract VMAQE (200 mg/kg) acetone extract (VMAE), and alcoholic extract (VMOHE) had a hypoglycemic effect on the glucose tolerance curve and the fasting glucose curve in Alloxan-induced diabetic male Wistar rats (100 – 150 g). In the sub-chronic administration (8-weeks), VMAQE helped to maintain body weight and showed a significant decrease in glucose levels from the 3^rd through to the 8^th week. VM extracts contained high levels of flavonoids, phenols, and polyphenols that presented antioxidant effects in vitro and improved antioxidant enzymes.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report that VMAQE ameliorates hyperglycemia and has antioxidant effects in diabetic Wistar rats.

• References

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