Antidiabetic potential of flavonoids from Artemisia macrocephalla Jaquem in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: Pharmacological and biochemical approach.

Plants belongs to Asteraceae family are reported to be rich in major phytochemical including flavonoids and are documented to acquire antidiabetic response. Antidiabetic effects of salvigenin, eupatilin and cirsilineol were screened on in-vitro enzyme inhibition and in-vivo streptozotocin animal models. Administration of salvigenin, eupatilin and cirsilineol (7.5 and 15mg/kg) produced antidiabteic responses in streptozotocin model for diabetes. All natural flavonoids reduces the blood glucose level to a significant level (*P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001, n=8) but promising results were observed in eupatilin at dose of 7.5mk/kg (364.12±4.3 to 128.41±4.2mg/dL, n=8) and at dose of 7.5mk/kg 363.65±4.8 to 126.14±5.1mg/dL, n=8). Administration of salvigenin, eupatilin and cirsilineol (7.5 and 15mg/kg) for 28 days showed a substantial fall (*P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001, n=8) in total cholesterol, LDL and triglcerides (TGs) in comparison to diabetic model. The isolated flavonoids reduced considerably the serum ALP, SGPT and SGOT in rats intoxicated with streptozotocin. The results indicate that the flavonoids may be useful in the development of new antidiabetic drugs.