Antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, and antioxidant effects of Eclipta prostrata L. aqueous extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

With the rising prevalence of diabetes mellitus around the world, researchers have been searching for a new treatment option that is both more effective and safer than chemotherapy. This study evaluated the antidiabetic activities of aqueous extracts of Eclipta prostrata L. in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The rats were randomized into six groups: Normal control, STZ-induced diabetic rats (50 mg/kg), STZ+EPE (100 mg/kg), STZ + EPE (200 mg/kg), STZ+glibenclamide (600 µg/kg) and EPE alone (200 mg/kg). The STZ-induced diabetic rats showed significantly (p<0.05) elevated glucose, HbA1c, lipid profile, hepatic, and kidney markers, while significantly (p<0.05) decreased insulin levels. The changes in activities of carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes such as glucose-6-phosphatase, fructose-1,6–bisphosphatase were significantly (p<0.05) increased in diabetic rats, while the activity of glucokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were significantly (p