Abstract

Aim: The hypoglycemic effect of the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Artemisia pallens
(100, 200 and 500 mg/kg body weight) was examined in normal, glucose load conditions
streptozotocin (STZ) - induced diabetic rats.
Materials and methods: The aerial parts of Artemisia pallens was extracted with methanol and its
hypoglycemic activity was tested in normal and streptozotocin-diabetic animals at oral doses of 100,
200 and 500 mg/kg and compared with a group of animals treated with the reference drug
tolbutamide.
Results: In the normal rats, the methanolic extract of Artemisia pallens (200 mg/kg) significantly
reduced the blood glucose levels after an oral glucose load from 130.9 ± 5.5 to 83.6 ± 3.4 mg% 2h
after oral administration of the extract. A significant reduction in blood glucose was also observed in
STZ diabetic rats from 241.0 ± 6.6 to 97.7± 5.7 mg% after 21 days of daily oral administration of the
extract (p<0.001).
Conclusion: We observed that 200 mg/kg extract gave the best result, however the 100 mg/kg was
also effective in reducing the blood glucose. However, when the dose was increased to 500 mg/kg
the extract did not have the desired effect. These findings establish the fact that long term
administration of the extract may have a good anti-hyperglycemic action and since only low dose are
active it could be a good source of hypoglycemic compounds.
Conflict of Interest: The authors have no conflict of interest.