Antioxidant Effect of a Mixture of Three Plants Traditionally used against Diabetes

Abstract

Medicinal plants are often used as a mixture to benefit from their complementary or synergistic effect. The objective of our study is to evaluate in vivo hypoglycemic activity of a mixture of three medicinal plants Ajuga iva, Peganum harmala and Salvia officinalis associated with reactive oxygen species in the liver of rats made diabetic by streptozotocin. The work is initiated by a preparation of the aqueous extracts from the dried plant material, followed by a phytochemical study of the extracts obtained. Male rats are made diabetic by injection of a single dose of 60 mg/kg of streptozotocin. At the end of the experiment, the liver is removed and a cytosolic assay of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione and malondialdehyde (MDA) is performed to estimate possible oxidative damage caused by the onset of diabetes.The phytochemical tests carried out reveal the presence of the different families of chemical compounds existing at different levels depending on the plant studied . Treatment of the diabetic rats with the mixture extract caused a significant decrease (p <0.05) in the serum glucose concentration, causing a significant improvement in antioxidant status in the liver by reducing the concentration of MDA and increased glutathione levels, the CAT activity and that of SOD. Our results reveal that the metabolites contained in the mixture produced hypoglycemic, antioxidant and cytoprotective effects by reducing the production of MDA and normalizing the cytosolic level of antioxidant systems, which helps to reduce the development of complications associated with diabetes.