Ameliorative effects of Artemisia judaica L. extract against alloxan-induced biochemical alterations in male wistar rats

Abstract

Objective: The current study aims to evaluate the potential of crude leaf extract of Artemisia judaica L. (AJE) in reducing the biochemical abnormalities accompanied to alloxan-induced diabetes in male Wistar rats. Methods: Thirty male albino rats (100-110 g) were divided equally into three groups including control, diabetic and diabetic+AJE. Diabetes was induced by using a single dose of alloxan (120 mg/kg of body weight). Serum biochemical parameters, including insulin, glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL), total proteins, albumin, globulin, renal markers (creatinine, urea, uric acid), activities of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (ɤGT) were measured in all groups. Also, values of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and ratios of albumin: globulin (A: G), TC/HDL (risk factor-1), LDL/HDL (risk factor-2) were calculated for each group. Results: Diabetic rats showed reduction in body weight and marked decline in the values of serum insulin, protein profile indices and HDL accompanied with marked elevation in values of glucose, HOMA_IR, triglycerides, TC, LDL, VLDL, TC/HDL, LDL/HDL, renal markers and activities of the estimated enzymes. Supplementation of diabetic rats with AJE, twice daily for 30 days, significantly ameliorated most of the estimated biochemical parameters. Conclusion: The current results demonstrate that AJE possesses a hypoglycemic effect and acts as a protective factor against metabolic abnormalities induced by diabetes mellitus.