Conyza bonariensis (L.) Impact on Carbohydrate Metabolism and Oxidative Stress in a Type 2 Diabetic Rat Model

This study was conducted to assess the possible antidiabetic potential of Conyza bonariensis by employing in vitro as well as in vivo assessments. The dried plant material was extracted in methanol, ethanol, and water. The in vitro results showed that the ethanolic extract (EthCb) was found to have higher antioxidant and antidiabetic potential as compared with the aqueous (AqCb) and methanolic extracts (MthCb) so it was further evaluated in the in vivo trial using a diabetic rat model. Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by administering 5% sucrose in drinking water and a cafeteria diet for 8 weeks, followed by nicotinamide and streptozotocin administration. Subsequently, the diabetic rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 8 each): Positive control (no treatment), standard control (Metformin @ 10 mg/kg bw), treatment 1 (C. bonariensis ethanolic extract @ 200 mg/kg bw), and treatment 2 (C. bonariensis ethanolic extract @ 400 mg/kg bw). In addition, there was a negative control group of 8 rats without diabetes induction or treatment. After 21 days of treatment, blood samples were collected from all rats. The serum was evaluated through different means for glucose level, lipid profile, oxidative stress, carbohydrate metabolic enzymes and thyroid hormones. ANOVA was used to evaluate the data statistically. Total oxidant status (TOS) and the serum glucose levels of the streptozotocin-treated rats were reduced significantly (P ⩽ .05) in Conyza bonariensis treated group. Whereas total antioxidant capacity (TAC) along with enzymes like paraoxonase and arylesterase were increased in Conyza bonariensis treated group. The antihyperlipidemic activity was also observed in Conyza bonariensis treated group Interestingly the subnormal levels of T3 and T4 which were observed in the PC group were also normalized in both treatment groups. This study demonstrated the antidiabetic as well as antioxidant activity of different extracts of Conyza bonariensis.