Hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effects of Anabasis articulata (Forssk) Moq (Chenopodiaceae), an Algerian medicinal plant

Abstract

Anabasis articulata leaves decoction is widely used by Algerian traditional medicine practitioners as a remedy for the treatment of diabetes. The aqueous extract was found to be non-toxic at 1000 mg/kg, as
no deaths or hazardous signs were recorded during treatment or the observation period (24 and 72 h) in either control or treated groups of mice. Experiments were performed in non-diabetic mice, and in
hyperglycemic mice (glucose treated and alloxan treated mice) to confirm the antidiabetic potential of A. articulata. Our results showed that the orally administration at a dose of 400 mg/kg decreased the glycaemia by 29.89% after 6 h (p < 0.05), corresponding to the greatest decrease of blood glucose in normoglycaemic mice. This dose also lowered blood glucose concentrations in diabetic mice revealing antihyperglycemic effect of A. articulata leaves. The class of phytochemical responsible for antidiabetic effects in aqueous leaf extract was also investigated. Phytochemical screening showed that the aqueous extract contains alkaloids (1.25%) and saponin (1.30%). Our findings showed that saponin (5 mg/Kg) was the active fraction, since it restores the normal blood glucose levels after 21 days of treatment. The alkaloid fraction did not significantly reduce the blood glucose level. The present study
confirms the antidiabetic proprieties of A. articulata leaves previously reported by Algerian healers.