Hydroethanolic leaf extract of Parthenium hysterophorus attenuates blood glucose in alloxan induced diabetic mice.

Abstract

The Parthenium hysterophorus (P. hysterophorus) is used to treat diabetes mellitus in local medicinal system of Pakistan but very limited scientifically proved information is available in this context. The objective of this work was to evaluate the antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of P. hysterophorus leaf extract. The extraction was made with freeze drying assisted ultrasonication using 40%, 60% and 80% ethanol as solvent. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were calculated. Antioxidant activity was determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and α-glucosidase inhibitory assay was also performed. The in vivo hypoglycemic potential of leaf extract was determined in alloxan monohydrate induced diabetic mice. The 60% ethanolic extract exhibited comparatively higher phenolic and flavonoid contents with values of 105.44±2.55 mg GAE/g D.E and 41.50±2.25 mg RE/g D.E, respectively. The 60% extract also possessed lowest IC50 value of 87.55 μg/mL and 98.22 μg/mL for DPPH radical scavenging and α-glucosidase inhibition, respectively. The same extract substantially reduced the blood glucose level in alloxan induced diabetic mice and results were quite comparable with standard drug metformin. The extract dose of 450 mg/kg reduced the blood glucose level of diabetic mice from 268.05 mg/dL 137.88 mg/dL at the end of 28 days treatment. The findings confirmed the ethnopharmacological use of P. hysterophorus to treat and manage diabetes mellitus type 2. The experimental outcomes may be employed as pharmacological leads to treat diabetes mellitus and to develop functional foods with hypoglycemic attributes.