Antidiabetic effects of polyherbal mixture made of Centaurium erythraea, Cichorium intybus and Potentilla erecta.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The polyherbal mixture made of Centaurium erythraea aerial parts and Cichorium intybus roots and Potentilla erecta rhizomes has been used for centuries to treat both the primary and secondary complications of diabetes. AIM OF THE STUDY: As a continuation of our search for the most effective herbal mixture used as an ethnopharmacological remedy for diabetes, this study aimed to compare the in vitro biological activities of this polyherbal mixture and its individual ingredients, and, most importantly, to validate the ethnopharmacological value of the herbal mixture through evaluation of its phytochemical composition, its potential in vivo toxicity and its effect on diabetes complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Phytochemical analysis was performed using HPLC-UV. Antioxidant activity was estimated via the DPPH test. Potential cytotoxicity/anticytotoxicity was assessed using an in vitro RBCs antihemolytic assay and an in vivo sub-chronic oral toxicity method. Antidiabetic activity was evaluated using an in vitro α-amylase inhibition assay and in vivo using a chemically induced diabetic rat model. RESULTS: The HPLC-UV analysis revealed the presence of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid derivative, catechin, five catechin derivatives, epicatechin, isoquercetin, hyperoside, rutin, four quercetin derivatives, caffeic acid, and four caffeic acid derivatives in the polyherbal mixture decoction. Treatment with the decoction has shown no toxic effects. The antioxidant and cytoprotective activities of the polyherbal mixture were higher than the reference's ones. Its antidiabetic activity was high in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Fourteen days of treatment with the decoction (15 g/kg) completely normalized blood glucose levels of diabetic animals, while treatments with insulin and glimepiride only slightly lowered glycemic values. In addition, lipid status of treated animals as well as levels of serum AST, ALT, ALP, creatinine, urea and MDA were completely normalized. In addition, the polyherbal mixture completely restored the histopathological changes of the liver, kidneys and all four Cornu ammonis regions of the hippocampus. CONCLUSIONS: The polyherbal mixture was effective in the prevention of both primary and secondary diabetic complications such as hyperlipidemia, increased lipid peroxidation, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, nephropathy and neurodegeneration.

Polyherbal mixture ameliorates hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and histopathological changes of pancreas, kidney and liver in a rat model of type 1 diabetes.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: One of the commonly prescribed 'anti-diabetic' polyherbal mixtures by European herbalists is made of Rubus fruticosus and Vaccinium myrtillus leaves, Potentilla erecta roots, Geum urbanum aerial parts and Phaseolus vulgaris pods. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical composition, antioxidant capacity, potential toxicity, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, nephroprotective and hepatoprotective activities of this polyherbal mixture decoction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The phytochemical composition was evaluated using HPLC-UV. The antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH test. Potential toxicity was evaluated using the acute and sub-chronic oral toxicity method. Diabetes was induced in Wistar female rats with a single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg). The animals whose blood glucose was >20 mmol/L for 14 consecutive days were considered diabetic. For the next 14 days, D-10 and D-20 groups were treated with the polyherbal mixture (10 and 20 g of dry plant material/kg, respectively). I and M were control groups treated with insulin glargine (13 IU/kg) and metformin (150 mg/kg), respectively. Healthy control (HC) and diabetic control (DC) groups were treated with water. The blood glucose level was measured on days 14, 21 and 28. Lipid profile analysis was done on day 28. Pancreas, kidney and liver histopathology was evaluated using the H&E and Masson's trichrome staining. The liver tissue was additionally tested for PAS-positive cells. RESULTS: The HPLC-UV analysis revealed the presence of quinic, gallic and caftaric acid, arbutin, rutin, trifolin, astragalin, hyperoside, isoquercetin and quercitrin. The antioxidant activity of the extract was higher than the reference's one (p < 0.01). Treatment with the polyherbal mixture (10 and 20 g/kg) has shown no toxic effects. No major decline in blood sugar was recorded in I and M groups compared to the DC one (22.86 ±â€¯2.58, 28.5 ±â€¯0.42 and 27.82 ±â€¯0.9 mmol/L, respectively). The polyherbal mixture lowered the blood glucose level to the normal value (8.64 ±â€¯4.09, 5.26 ±â€¯1.3 and 6.76 ±â€¯1.54 mmol/L in D-10, D-20 and HC groups, respectively). Furthermore, it decreased the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, VLDL, LDL, atherogenic and cardiovascular risk indices (p < 0.001) compared to the DC group. In addition, the extract restored histopathological changes of the pancreas, kidneys and liver to the healthy animal level. CONCLUSION: Treatment with the polyherbal mixture extract was more effective than the standard drugs (insulin and metformin) in the amelioration of hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and histopathological changes of the pancreas, kidney and liver tissue.