Evaluation of in vivo antidiabetic and antioxidant activity of Achyranthes aspera Linn. seeds by streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common endocrine metabolic disorders which have a significant impact on the health, quality of life, and life expectancy of patients as well as on the health-care system. Herbal remedies are convenient for the management of type 2 diabetes due to their traditional acceptability and availability, low costs, and lesser side effects. Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of aqueous ethanolic extract of Achyranthes aspera Linn. seeds in normal and streptozotocin (STZ) 65 mg/kg body weight-induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: In this experiments, various dose ethanolic seed extracts of A. aspera were administrated to diabetic rats and observed a significant reduction in blood glucose by induced STZ at 28 days’ treatment period. After the experimental period, the blood and tissue samples were collected and subjected to various biochemical parameters and histopathological studies. Results: The treatment group with the extract showed a significant increase in the blood glucose, hemoglobin levels, and insulin levels. The total cholesterol and serum triglycerides levels, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very LDL were also significantly reduced, and the high-density lipoprotein level was significantly increased on treatment with the A. aspera extract. A significant decrease in the levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione (GSH) peroxidase and increase in the levels of Vitamin E, catalase, and reduced GSH were observed in A. aspera-treated diabetic rats. Conclusion: Thus, from this study, we conclude that ethanolic extract of A. aspera exhibited significant antihyperglycemic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant activities in STZ-induced diabetic rats.