Attenuation of carbohydrate metabolism and lipid profile by methanolic extract of Euphorbia helioscopia and improvement of beta cell function in a type 2 diabetic rat model

BACKGROUND: Traditional plant-based remedies prescribed to treat diabetes have shown promise in research-based setting. Current research was conducted to examine the antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of methanolic extract of a folk herbal plant Euphorbia helioscopia in a rat model of type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by administering 5% sucrose in drinking water and cafeteria diet for 8 weeks with subsequent nicotinamide and streptozotocin administration. Diabetic rats were then distributed into four individual groups (n = 8); Positive control (PC; no treatment), standard control (SC; Metformin @ 10 mg/kg bw), treatment 1 (EH1, E. helioscopia methanolic extract @200 mg/kg bw) and treatment 2 (EH2, E. helioscopia methanolic extract @400 mg/kg bw). After 21 days of treatments, the rats were decapitated for blood collection. Serum was evaluated for antidiabetic potential, antioxidant and lipid profile, thyroid hormone, amylin, leptin, and carbohydrate metabolic enzymes. Data were analyzed statistically by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: Serum levels of glucagon, glucose and C-peptide were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) decreased in EH1 (1915.33 ± 98.26(a) pg/ml, 122.59 ± 2.99(a) mg/dl, 277.59 ± 28.41(a) pg/ml respectively) and EH2 (1575.28 ± 56.46(a) pg/ml, 106.04 ± 5.21(a) mg/dl, 395.06 ± 42.55(a) pg/ml respectively) as compared to the PC (3135.78 ± 189.46(b)pg/ml, 191.24 ± 17.75(b)mg/dl, 671.70 ± 109.75(b) pg/ml respectively) group. A similar trend was observed in serum insulin levels in EH1 and EH2 groups. The plant’s methanolic extract effectively reduced the total oxidant status (TOS) and MDA levels in the diabetic rats and increased the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) along with an increased level of SOD, Catalase, Paraoxonase, and arylesterase. The plant extract also induced antihyperlipidemic activity and recovered the thyroid hormones, amylin, and leptin levels to normal. The activity of different carbohydrate metabolic enzymes like Pyruvate Kinase, Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase, phosphofructokinase, and glucokinase has also been restored by the extract treatment. CONCLUSION: Current study indicates the antioxidant and antidiabetic potential of E. helioscopia methanolic extract in normalizing the lipid profile, thyroid hormones, amylin, leptin, and carbohydrate metabolism in type 2 diabetic rat model.