Evaluation of in vivo antidiabetic, antidyslipidemic, and in vitro antioxidant activities of hydromethanolic root extract of Datura stramonium L. (Solanaceae)

Abstract

Background

The global morbidity and mortality rates of diabetes mellitus are persistently increasing. There is a demand for new antidiabetic drugs because the safety and efficacy of currently available medications are limited. The present study was therefore conducted to study the antidiabetic activities of the hydromethanolic root extract of Datura stramonium L. (Solanaceae) in mice.

Methods

Blood glucose lowering activity of three doses (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) of the hydromethanolic root extract of D. stramonium was tested on normoglycemic, oral glucose-loaded, and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice models. The effect of the extract on body weight and diabetic dyslipidemia was also studied on STZ-induced diabetic mice. Additionally, antioxidant activity of the plant extract was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine free radical scavenging assay. Data were analyzed using one way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc multiple comparison test.

Results

The hydromethanolic root extract did not show significant hypoglycemic activity in normoglycemic mice. The plant extract at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg significantly (P<0.05) reduced blood glucose levels of oral glucose-loaded and diabetic mice. All the three doses of the root extract significantly improved diabetic dyslipidemia and the body weight of diabetic mice. Free radical scavenging activity of the root extract was found to be comparable to ascorbic acid with an IC50 of 13.47 µg/mL.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that the hydromethanolic root extract of D. stramonium possesses significant antidiabetic, antidyslipidemic, and antioxidant activities.

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disorder of carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism characterized by persistent hyperglycemia secondary to insulin secretion, insulin action, or both.¹ Chronic hyperglycemia leads to microvascular complications affecting the eyes, kidneys, and nerves and increased risk for cardiovascular disease.^1,2 In addition, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia are common complications of DM. Elevated serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels occur in diabetic patients compared to non-diabetic individuals.^3,4

The global prevalence of DM was 11.4% with a treatment rate of 48.2% and a mortality rate of 2.7% in 2017.⁵ According to a report of the International Diabetes Federation, there were 425 million people (aged 20–79 years) with diabetes globally in 2017 and this number will rise to 629 million in 2045.⁶

Plants have always been a source of drugs for the treatment of human ailments, and millions of people in the world rely on medicinal plants for primary health care, income generation, and livelihood improvement.^7,8 There are about 800 plants which have been reported to show antidiabetic activity implying that there is a great demand for research on plant-derived compounds to develop new antidiabetic medications.⁸ Different clinical trials have shown that plants cause significant antidiabetic and antidyslipidemic activities in humans.^9–14

The currently available antidiabetic drugs are expensive, limited in efficacy, and possess severe side effects.¹⁵ Moreover, commonly used oral antidiabetic agents (biguanides, sulfonylureas, and thiazolidinediones) are contraindicated in diabetic patients with renal, hepatic, and cardiac failure.^16–18 Thus, the use of plant-derived bioactive compounds which are effective, accessible, safe, and less expensive is an important treatment option for DM.

Traditionally, Datura stramonium has been used in the treatment of DM in Ethiopia. An ethnobotanical survey which was carried out in Nekemte town (East Wollega, Ethiopia) reported that the root of the plant is taken orally to treat DM.¹⁹ However, the antidiabetic activity of this medicinal plant is not scientifically validated. More importantly, previous studies have shown that crude aqueous leaf extract and methanolic seed extract of D. stramonium possess in vitro α-amylase enzyme inhibitory activity suggesting the plant to be a potential candidate for DM.^20,21 Datura metel, a similar plant species in the genus Datura, has been reported to have significant hypoglycemic activity.²² Consequently, D. stramonium may have a similar effect as both plants belong to the same genus.

Scientific evidence has suggested that induction of oxidative stress and inflammation is a major process in the pathogenesis of DM and its complications.^2,23–26 The protective effects of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents have been explained in different studies.^27–29 Interestingly, the leaf extract of D. stramonium showed in vitro antioxidant and in vivo anti-inflammatory activities^30,31 suggesting that the plant may demonstrate antidiabetic activity. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the antidiabetic activities of the hydromethanolic root extract of D. stramonium L. (Solanaceae) in mice.

Materials and methods

Collection of plant material

Roots of D. stramonium L were collected from Gondar town (located in Amhara region, northwest Ethiopia) in December 2017. Taxonomic identification of the plant was done by a botanist Dr Getinet Masresha, and a specimen of the plant material was preserved with the voucher number GM004/2010 in the Herbarium of the Biology Department, University of Gondar for future reference.

Drugs, chemicals, and instruments

The following drugs, chemicals, and instruments were used during the study: streptozotocin (STZ; Sigma-Aldrich Co, St Louis, MO, USA), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine (DPPH; 97%), glibenclamide (Julphar Pharmaceuticals, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE), l-ascorbic acid (99%), citric acid monohydrate (Lab Tech Chemicals, Mumbai, India), trisodium citrate dihydrate (Blulux Laboratories, Faridaban, India), methanol absolute (AppliChem GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany), ferric chloride (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA), sodium hydroxide (Suppertek Chemical, Belapur, India), hydrochloric acid (Suppertek Chemical), 40% glucose solution (Reyoung Pharmaceuticals, Shandong, China), analytical balance, pH meter, i-QARE DS-W^® blood glucose meter, and test strips (Alliance International, New Taipei City, Taiwan), lyophilizer, UV spectrophotometer, distilled water (DW), automated chemistry analyzer (Shenzhen Mindray Biomedical Electronics Co, Ltd, Shenzhen, China), Whatman filter paper no 1, gauze, beakers, funnels, measuring cylinder, glass rod, gloves, spatula, pipettes, gavage (oral feeding syringe), scissors, mask, animal cages, insulin syringe with needle, oven, desiccators, and a refrigerator. Analytical grade chemicals were used in the experiment.

Preparation of the plant extract

The roots of the plant were thoroughly washed with DW to remove dirt and soil, and then dried under shade at room temperature with optimal ventilation. The dried roots were pulverized. Then, 700 gm coarse powder of the roots was macerated in 80% methanol for 72 hours at room temperature and then the solvent was decanted through gauze followed by filtration via Whatman filter paper no 1. The residue was re-macerated twice with fresh solvent (80% methanol) each for 72 hours and the filtrates obtained from the successive maceration were dried using an oven at 40°C to remove methanol and a lyophilizer to remove water. The dried root extract was then kept in a refrigerator at −4°C until further use.³²

Experimental animals

Healthy male Swiss albino mice (body weight, 20–35 g; age 8–12 weeks) were used in the study except for the acute oral toxicity study wherein healthy female mice (body weight, 20–35 g; age, 8–12 weeks) were used. The mice were purchased from the Ethiopian Public Health Institute, kept at the animal house of the Pharmacy Department, Wollo University under standard conditions (at a temperature of 25±2°C, and with a 12-hour light–dark cycle), and provided with free access to standard pellet laboratory diet and water ad libitum. Animals were acclimatized to the laboratory conditions for 1 week before the initiation of the experiment. The experiment was conducted in accordance with the guide for the care and use of laboratory animals.³³

Phytochemical analysis of the hydromethanolic root extract of D. stramonium

Qualitative preliminary phytochemical screening tests were carried out for 80% methanol root extract of D. stramonium using standard procedures^34,35 to determine the presence or absence of alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, anthraquinones, terpenoids, glycosides, and steroids.

Acute toxicity study

Acute oral toxicity study was carried out based on the protocols of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development guideline no 425.³⁶ One female Swiss albino mouse was fasted for 4 hours and the fasting body weight of the animal was measured. Then, the hydromethanolic root extract was administered sequentially to the fasted mouse at a dose of 2,000 mg/kg. The mouse was then kept under strict observation for physical and behavioral changes for 24 hours with special attention during the first 4 hours. Following the results from the first mouse, four other mice were recruited and allowed to fast for 4 hours and their body weight was measured. The root extract was administered separately to each mouse at a dose of 2,000 mg/kg, and each mouse was observed in the same manner. The observation was continued for 14 days for any sign of overt toxicity.

Grouping and dosing of animals

Male Swiss albino mice were recruited and used in all animal models of this study since female mice are insensitive to STZ and insulin.^37–39 In normoglycemic and oral glucose-loaded models, overnight fasted mice (for 16 hours)⁴⁰ were randomly divided into five groups (each group containing six mice). Group I (negative control) was treated with 10 mL/kg DW; groups II, III, and IV were treated with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg hydromethanolic root extract, respectively; and group V was treated with 5 mg/kg glibenclamide. In the STZ-induced diabetic animal model, overnight fasted (for 16 hours) mice were randomly divided into six groups (five groups of diabetic and one group of normal mice, each group containing six mice). Groups I and II (normal and diabetic control) were treated with 10 mL/kg DW; groups III, IV, and V (diabetic test groups) were treated with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg root extract, respectively; and group VI was treated with 5 mg/kg glibenclamide. All the treatments (glibenclamide, plant extract, and DW) were administered orally to the mice since people traditionally use the root of D. stramonium orally for the treatment of DM.¹⁹

Measurement of blood glucose level

Blood samples were withdrawn from the tail vein of each fasted mouse by cutting the tip of the tail aseptically in all animal models. Blood glucose level was measured using a glucometer and test strip. Measurements were carried out in triplicates and the average value was taken.

Induction of experimental diabetes

Diabetes was induced using STZ which was dissolved in 0.1 M fresh cold citrate buffer (pH 4.5). Freshly prepared STZ solution was injected intraperitoneally (ip) in overnight (16 hours) fasted mice at a dose of 150 mg/kg.^41–43 Food consumption was allowed after 30 minutes of STZ injection. After 6 hours, the animals were given free access to 5% glucose solution for the next 24 hours to prevent death secondary to hypoglycemic shock. They were screened for diabetes after 72 hours of STZ injection and mice with fasting blood glucose levels >200 mg/dL were considered diabetic and used in the study.^44–46 Bedding of the cages was changed every day after STZ injection to maintain dry bedding for polyuric diabetic animals.⁴⁷

Evaluation of hypoglycemic effect of the extract in normoglycemic mice

Overnight fasted normal mice were randomly divided into five different groups. Then, mice were treated with DW, plant extract, and glibenclamide according to their respective grouping as mentioned earlier. The blood glucose level of each mouse was measured before treatment as baseline and then at 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours posttreatment.

Evaluation of the antihyperglycemic effect of the extract in oral glucose-loaded mice

Overnight fasted mice were used for the oral glucose tolerance test.^40,48–52 Fasted mice were randomly divided into five groups and then DW, plant extract, and glibenclamide were administered according to their respective grouping. After 30 minutes of treatment administration, 40% glucose solution was loaded into each mouse orally at a dose of 2 g/kg.^43,51 Blood glucose level of each mouse was measured just before oral glucose loading and then at 30, 60, and 120 minutes following glucose loading.^46,53,54

Evaluation of the effects of repeated daily doses of the plant extract on blood glucose, serum lipid, and body weight of diabetic mice

Overnight fasted diabetic and normal mice were randomly grouped into six groups (five groups of diabetic and one group of normal mice, each group containing six mice). Then, mice were treated with DW, plant extract, and glibenclamide according to their respective grouping once daily for 14 days. Fasting blood glucose level and body weight of the mice were measured on day 1 (3 days after STZ injection immediately before the first day of treatment) as baseline, day 7, and day 14. Measurements of blood glucose level and body weight of overnight fasted mice were carried out 2 hours after treatment.^51,55 On day 15, overnight fasted mice were sacrificed with an overdose of pentobarbitone (150 mg/kg, ip),⁵⁶ and then blood samples were collected in a sterile tube from each mouse through cardiac puncture. The blood samples were kept at room temperature for 2 hours to allow coagulation, and then centrifuged at 2,000 rpm for 10 minutes. The supernatant was decanted into test tubes for serum sample preparation to determine the level of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and high HDL-C by using an automated chemistry analyzer.

Evaluation of in vitro antioxidant activity of the root extract using DPPH assay

Free radical scavenging activity of the root extract of D. stramonium was evaluated by using DPPH free radical scavenging assay.⁵⁷ Four milligrams of DPPH were dissolved in 100 mL methanol in the dark and 3.9 mL of a 0.1 mM methanolic solution of DPPH was mixed with a 100 µL methanolic solution of different concentrations (12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 µg/mL) of the root extract. It was allowed to mix well and incubated in the dark for 30 minutes at room temperature. Ascorbic acid at the same concentration was used as positive control (standard antioxidant). DPPH solutions without the tested samples were used as negative control. After 30 minutes, the absorbance of the mixture and the control at 517 nm were recorded using a UV spectrophotometer. The test was repeated with the same concentration of each sample in triplicate and the average value was taken. The percentage scavenging of DPPH free radical was calculated by the formula: [(A₀−A₁)/A₀] ×100, where A₀ is the absorbance of the control and A₁ is the absorbance of the plant extract or standard drug containing sample.

Ethical considerations

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the ethical review committee of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University before the commencement of the study.

Statistical analysis

Data are presented as mean ± standard error of mean. All parameters between groups and within a group were compared using one way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc multiple comparison test. P-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. SPSS version 23 software (IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY, USA) was used for the statistical analysis.

Results

Percentage yield of the plant extract

The percentage yield of the hydromethanolic root extract of D. stramonium was found to be 7.14% (w/w). The extract was a reddish semisolid at room temperature, and it solidified when stored in a refrigerator.

Acute oral toxicity test

The root extract was found to be safe at the dose of 2,000 mg/kg. There was no sign of acute toxicity and mortality in extract-fed female mice in the 2-week observation period. This shows that LD50 of hydromethanolic root extract of D. stramonium is >2,000 mg/kg. Based on the acute toxicity test result, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg doses of hydromethanolic root extract were selected for hypoglycemic and antihyper-glycemic studies.

Preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening

Qualitative preliminary phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of flavonoids, phenols, tannins, alkaloids, steroids, glycosides, and anthraquinones in the hydromethanolic root extract of D. stramonium (Table 1).

Table 1.

Preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening of the hydromethanolic root extract of Datura stramonium

Phytochemicals	Result
Flavonoids	+
Phenols	+
Tannins	+
Saponins	−
Alkaloids	+
Terpenoids	−
Glycosides	+
Steroids	+
Anthraquinones	+

Abbreviations: +, present; −, absent.

Hypoglycemic effect of hydromethanolic root extract of D. stramonium in normoglycemic mice

In normoglycemic mice, all the three doses of the D. stramonium root extract did not show significant (P>0.05) hypoglycemic effect at all time points compared to the negative control (Table 2). Glibenclamide significantly reduced the blood glucose at all time points (P<0.01 at 1 hour, and P<0.001 at 2, 4, and 6 hours).

Table 2.

Hypoglycemic effect of the hydromethanolic root extract of Datura stramonium in normoglycemic mice

	Group fasting blood glucose level (mg/dL)
	0 hour	1 hour	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
DW 10 mL/kg	81.33±5.82	78.61±4.36	82.11±5.91	80.56±5.45	83.33±5.04
DSRE 100 mg/kg	85.72±0.69	84.72±2.49	77.11±4.69	70.94±5.63	66.61±6.04
DSRE 200 mg/kg	86.67±1.36	81.44±3.12	79.39±4.74	66.39±4.81	63.22±2.79
DSRE 400 mg/kg	82.45±2.71	82.79±2.25	79.72±0.94	72.72±3.76	67.94±1.66
GLC 5 mg/kg	82.39±4.24	52.29±3.72**	31.61±4.01***	32.67±2.29***	43.22±5.41***

Notes: Each value represents mean ± SEM, n=6 for each treatment.

^**P<0.01,

^***P<0.001 compared with the negative control.

Abbreviations: DW, distilled water; DSRE, Datura stramonium root extract; GLC, glibenclamide; SEM, standard error of mean.

Effect of hydromethanolic root extract of D. stramonium on blood glucose level of oral glucose-loaded mice

It has been found that before oral glucose loading, there were no significant differences in the fasting blood glucose level among all groups (P>0.05). The peak blood glucose level was measured 0.5 hours after glucose loading in all groups confirming induction of hyperglycemia (Figure 1). The extract and standard drug did not significantly reduce the increased blood glucose level after 30 minutes of oral glucose loading as compared to the negative control. It was revealed that the root extract at doses of 100 mg/kg (P<0.05), 200 mg/kg (P<0.05), and 400 mg/kg (P<0.01) significantly reduced the blood glucose level at 1 and 2 hours post oral glucose loading compared to the negative control. In addition, glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) significantly (P<0.001) reduced the blood glucose level at 1 and 2 hours post oral glucose administration.

Figure 1.

Effect of hydromethanolic root extract of Datura stramonium on the blood glucose level of oral glucose-loaded mice.

Abbreviations: DW, distilled water; DSRE, Datura stramonium root extract; GLC, glibenclamide.

Effect of hydromethanolic root extract of D. stramonium on blood glucose level of diabetic mice

There was significant (P<0.001) elevation in the baseline blood glucose level of diabetic mice compared to normal controls on day 0 (Table 3). Groups of diabetic mice which were treated with the plant extract and glibenclamide showed significant reduction of blood glucose level on day 7 and day 14 of treatment compared to the diabetic control (Table 3). The study showed that the root extract at doses of 100 mg/kg (P<0.05 on day 7 and 14), 200 mg/kg (P<0.05 on day 7 and 14), and 400 mg/kg (P<0.05 on day 7, P<0.01 on day 14) significantly reduced blood glucose levels compared to the diabetic control. Glibenclamide significantly (P<0.001 on day 7 and 14) reduced the blood glucose level compared to the diabetic control. Intergroup analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the blood glucose level among the extract and standard drug-treated groups.

Table 3.

Effect of hydromethanolic root extract of Datura stramonium on the blood glucose level of diabetic mice

Group	Fasting blood glucose level (mg/dL)
	Day 0	Day 7	Day 14
Normal control	88.17±1.56	87.56±1.89	89.56±1.35
Diabetic control	250.01±1.33n	283.28±7.46n	289.45±11.23n
DSRE 100 mg/kg	264.11±3.48	252.94±1.23*	251.33±1.33*
DSRE 200 mg/kg	256.22±3.41	251.17±0.51*	250.83±0.71*
DSRE 400 mg/kg	270.39±4.66	251.01±0.77*	246.56±1.69**
GLC 5 mg/kg	257.17±4.21	240.12±0.67***	227.56±2.41***

Notes: Each value represents mean ± SEM, n=6 for each treatment.

^*P<0.05 vs diabetic control,

^**P<0.01 vs diabetic control,

^***P<0.001 vs diabetic control,

ⁿP<0.001 vs normal control.

Abbreviations: DSRE, Datura stramonium root extract; GLC, glibenclamide; SEM, standard error of mean.

Effect of hydromethanolic root extract of D. stramonium on body weight of diabetic mice

The study showed that there was significant (P<0.01) reduction in the body weight of the diabetic control compared to normal control on days 0, 7, and 14 of treatment. Administration of the root extract significantly (P<0.05) improved body weight of diabetic mice as compared to the diabetic control (Table 4). The root extract at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg showed significant improvement in body weight of the diabetic mice on day 14, whereas 400 mg/kg showed significant improvement in body weight on day 7 and 14 compared to the diabetic control. Additionally, glibenclamide significantly (P<0.05) improved the body weight of diabetic mice on day 7 and 14 of treatment compared to the diabetic control.

Table 4.

Effect of hydromethanolic root extract of Datura stramonium on the body weight of diabetic mice

Group	Body weight (g)
	Day 0	Day 7	Day 14
Normal control	26.82±0.32	27.34±0.23	27.64±0.38
Diabetic control	23.59±0.59a	23.64±0.61a	22.08±0.74a
DSRE 100 mg/kg	22.73±0.61a	24.82±0.46a	25.15±0.71a,b
DSRE 200 mg/kg	21.77±0.54a	25.50±0.41	25.60±0.63b
DSRE 400 mg/kg	22.46±0.52a	26.09±0.74b	26.27±0.45b
GLC 5 mg/kg	23.23±0.53a	26.89±0.41b	27.76±0.56b

Notes: Each value represents mean ± SEM, n=6 for each treatment.

^aP<0.05 vs normal control,

^bP<0.05 vs diabetic control.

Abbreviations: DSRE, Datura stramonium root extract; GLC, glibenclamide; SEM, standard error of mean.

Effect of hydromethanolic root extract of D. stramonium on serum lipid level of diabetic mice

There was a significant (P<0.01) elevation of serum total cholesterol and triglyceride level with significant reduction in HDL cholesterol in diabetic controls compared to the normal control, confirming induction of diabetic dyslipidemia (Table 5). On administration of the root extract, the serum lipid level improved. The result showed that the root extract at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg significantly (P<0.05) decreased the level of total cholesterol and triglycerides compared to the diabetic control. Similarly, the level of HDL cholesterol significantly (P<0.05) increased after 14 days of treatment by all the doses of the root extract compared to the negative control. In addition, glibenclamide also improved (P<0.01) the lipid profile in diabetic mice compared to the diabetic control.

Table 5.

Effect of hydromethanolic root extract of Datura stramonium on the serum lipid level of diabetic mice

Group	TC (mg/dL)	TG (mg/dL)	HDL-C (mg/dL)
Normal control	87.50±1.20	95.83±5.87	36.67±1.80
Diabetic control	186.17±2.44a	174.83±2.97a	24.50±1.59a
DSRE 100 mg/kg	178.50±0.81a,b	153.50±1.96a,b	30.50±0.76a,b
DSRE 200 mg/kg	178.83±0.65a,b	152.83±2.60a,b	30.83±0.95a,b
DSRE 400 mg/kg	179.17±1.38a,b	150.17±4.70a,b	32.17±1.08b
GLC 5 mg/kg	93.50±2.09b	104.67±7.80b	35.67±0.76b

Notes: Each value represents mean ± SEM, n=6 for each treatment.

^aP<0.05 vs normal control,

^bP<0.05 vs diabetic control.

Abbreviations: DSRE, Datura stramonium root extract; GLC, glibenclamide; TC, total cholesterol; TG, triglycerides; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; SEM, standard error of mean.

Antioxidant activity of hydromethanolic root extract of D. stramonium

Antioxidant activity of the hydromethanolic root extract was studied using DPPH free radical scavenging assay. This study showed that free radical scavenging activity of the root extract is concentration dependent and comparable to ascorbic acid. IC50 of the root extract and ascorbic acid in the assay was found to be 13.47 and 4.03 µg/mL, respectively (Table 6).

Table 6.

Percentage of free radical scavenging activity of the hydromethanolic root extract of Datura stramonium

Concentration (μg/mL)	% Inhibition of DPPH free radical		IC50 (μg/mL)
	Ascorbic acid	Root extract	Ascorbic acid	Root extract
12.5	16.31±0.43	2.47±0.39
25	30.65±0.24	5.23±0.59
50	44.31±0.11	11.34±0.21	4.03	13.47
100	67.79±0.21	18.31±0.31
200	81.23±0.29	27.39±0.84
400	90.32±0.39	35.18±0.22

Note: Each value of % inhibition of DPPH free radical is presented as mean ± SEM.

Abbreviations: DPPH, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine; SEM, standard error of mean.

Discussion

DM is a chronic disorder of carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism characterized by persistent hyperglycemia resulting from abnormalities in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both.^1,58,59 Potential plant-derived antidiabetic compounds that can act on multiple disease-related drug targets with proven long-term safety are needed for the treatment of DM.⁶⁰ Bioactive compounds that are obtained from various medicinal plant sources, including flavonoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, tannins, glycosides, glycolipids, dietary fibers, carotenoids, anthocyanins have been reported to have potent antidiabetic activity.^43,61,62 In the present study, preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening of the hydromethanolic root extract of D. stramonium revealed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, glycosides, and steroids implying that blood glucose lowering activity of the plant extract is possibly due to the presence of these phytochemicals.

Plant-derived phytochemicals affect glucose metabolism by increasing insulin secretion and action, inhibiting α-glucosidase and α-amylase, decreasing gluconeogenesis, protecting pancreatic β-cells against oxidative stress and inflammation, enhancing expression and translocation of glucose transporters, promoting pancreatic β-cell proliferation, and inhibiting apoptosis.⁶¹ These mechanisms of action of phytochemicals provide an insight to new antidiabetic drug designs. Flavonoids and other polyphenols show blood glucose lowering activities mainly by enhancing GLUT-2 expression in pancreatic β-cells and increasing expression and promoting translocation of GLUT-4.^63–65

In the oral glucose-loaded mice model, all three doses (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) of 80% methanolic root extract of D. stramonium significantly reduced raised blood glucose level. In this model, the blood glucose lowering activity of the leaf extract of D. stramonium could be associated with the presence of different phytomolecules like flavonoids, phenols, and others that act individually or synergistically in glucose homeostasis by different mechanisms of action. Previous studies reported that various plant extracts show significant blood glucose lowering activities on oral glucose-loaded animal models.^45,51,55

STZ is a widely used diabetogenic agent for the induction of experimental diabetes in animals due to its toxic effect on pancreatic β-cells, resulting in loss of insulin secretion. It is a structural analog of glucose; as a result, it is taken up by pancreatic β-cells through GLUT 2 and destroys beta cells via DNA methylation and free radical generation.^66,67 Pancreas contains stable (quiescent) β-cells which have regenerative capacity after being damaged by chemicals (STZ, alloxan) through neogenesis or replication of the preexisting differentiated cells.^47,68 The leaf extract of Moringa stenopetala, as reported by Toma et al, and other plant extracts enhance proliferation/regeneration of β-cells of the pancreas resulting in increased insulin secretion and action in STZ-induced diabetic animals.⁵⁵ In the present study, all the three doses of the hydromethanolic root extract of D. stramonium showed significant antihyperglycemic activities in STZ-induced diabetic mice suggesting that pancreatic β-cell regeneration might be one possible mechanism for the antidiabetic activity of the root extract.

Oxidative stress and inflammation involving the pancreas are the key factors in the pathogenesis and progression of diabetes. Excessive free radicals generated from hyperglycemia-induced glucose autoxidation and protein glycosylation play an important role in DM pathogenesis.^26,70,71 Pancreas β-cells are sensitive to damage by nitric oxide and other free radicals which can be generated by STZ.^66,72,73 Previous studies revealed that various plant extracts have shown pancreas β-cell protective effects due to their antioxidant activities.^27–29 Similarly, the root extract of D. stramonium showed antioxidant activity in the current study. This suggests that the β-cell protective effect secondary to the antioxidant activity of the root extract may have contributed to its anti-hyperglycemic activity in STZ-induced diabetic mice.

The root extract did not show hypoglycemic effect in normal mice even though it demonstrated significant antihyperglycemic activity in oral glucose-loaded and STZ-induced diabetic mice. Since normoglycemic mice demonstrate normal homeostasis, the extract could cause less suppression of normal regulatory mechanisms involved in carbohydrate metabolism.^74,75

In the present study, STZ-induced diabetic mice developed significant hyperglycemia, body weight loss, and diabetic dyslipidemia. Body weight loss in STZ-induced diabetic mice is due to increased protein catabolism secondary to insulin deficiency.^70,76 Previous studies demonstrated that various plant extracts improved body weight loss in STZ-induced diabetic animals.^40,43,51 In this study, the hydromethanolic root extract-treated diabetic mice showed significant (P<0.05) improvement in body weight suggesting that the plant extract might have protective effects against protein catabolism and muscle wasting possibly due to the enhancement of insulin secretion and/or action.

Insulin activates lipoprotein lipase which can degrade triglycerides and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In diabetic patients, lipoprotein lipase is less active due to insulin deficiency, and this can lead to the development of diabetic dyslipidemia. Additionally, persistent hyperglycemia activates transcription factors for fatty acid synthase which causes increased lipid biosynthesis.^69,77 Thus, augmenting insulin secretion and/or action is a potential approach to treat diabetic dyslipidemia. In this study, repeated daily dose administration of D. stramonium root extract for 14 days significantly (P<0.05) reduced serum triglyceride and total cholesterol levels while it significantly (P<0.05) increased HDL-cholesterol at least due to improved glucose utilization in the diabetic mice. Additionally, the plant extract may have a direct effect on lipid absorption and metabolism that can lead to the improvement of diabetic dyslipidemia.⁷⁸

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that the hydromethanolic root extract of D. stramonium has antihyperglycemic and antioxidant activities. Additionally, the extract significantly improved diabetic dyslipidemia.