Antidiabetic effect of Wedelia chinensis leaf extract in alloxan induced Swiss albino diabetic mice

Background Wedelia chinensis (W. chinensis) is a beneficial medicinal herb used in folk medicine to treat many chronic diseases. The present study is aimed to evaluate the antidiabetic property of methanolic extract of W. chinensis leaf (MEWL) in alloxan induced Swiss albino diabetic mice. Methods Methanol was used as a solvent to obtain W. chinensis leaf extract. In vitro antidiabetic property of MEWL was revealed by α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition assays. To explore in vivo antidiabetic properties of MEWL, diabetes was induced in Swiss albino mice by intraperitoneal injection of alloxan at dose of 80 mg/kg body weight (BW). All Swiss albino mice (normal mice and diabetic mice) were divided into five groups and orally treated with normal pellet diet and water (normal control and diabetic control), glibenclamide 5 mg/kg BW and MEWL (100 and 200 mg/kg BW). Effects of MEWL on blood glucose levels, activity of liver function enzymes associated with diabetes and serum levels of lipid parameters were evaluated. Results In α-amylase inhibition assay, 48.39% inhibition in the activity of α-amylase was observed at 500 μg/ml concentration of MEWL. Moreover, 39.37% inhibition of α-glucosidase activity was observed at 10 μg/ml concentration of MEWL. The results of in vivo antidiabetic assays showed that MEWL significantly ( p < 0.01) decreased blood glucose level and ameliorated parameters of lipid profile (TG, TC, LDL, VLDL and HDL) in diabetic mice. MEWL treatments for 21 days also reduced the activity of SGPT and SGOT enzymes, and CRP levels in the serum of diabetic mice significantly ( p < 0.01) compared to that of untreated diabetic mice. Conclusion The present study demonstrated that W. chinensis leaf extract effectively subsidized the hyperglycemic effect along with restoring the lipid profile parameters in diabetic mice and might be used as an alternative medicine for the management of diabetes.