Antidiabetic and Antidyslipidemic Effects of Artemisia mesatlantica, an Endemic Plant from Morocco

Abstract

Aims: The study aimed to assess the antihyperglycemic and antidyslipidemic activities of Artemisia mesatlantica. Background: Artemisia mesatlantica is an endemic plant of Morocco used in traditional medicine as an alternative treatment for diabetes. Objective: The study was designed to examine the antihyperglycemic and antidyslipidemicability of aqueous extract of Artemisia mesatlantica (AMAE) in experimental animal models. Methods: The effect of the single and repeated oral administration (7 days of treatment) of AMAE (60 mg/kg) on blood glucose and lipid profile were assessed in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Furthermore, to confirm the antidyslipidemic effect of Artemisia mesatlantica, a model of hyperlipidemia induced by tyloxapol (Triton WR-1339) in rats was used. Results: The AMAE (60 mg/kg) was able to significantly reduce glycaemia, improve lipid profile and increase hepatic glycogen content in STZ-induced diabetic rats. In addition, pretreatment of rats for 7 consecutive days with an aqueous extract of Artemisia mesatlantica (600 mg/kg) prior to tyloxapol injection prevented increases in plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-c. Conclusion: From these observed results, it can be deduced that Artemisia mesatlantica possesses remarkable antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic properties.