Antihyperglycemic Activity of Aqueous Extract of Euphorbia guyoniana in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.

Aims: This work assessed the antihyperglycemic effect of Euphorbia guyoniana.

Background: Euphorbia guyoniana (Boss. and Reut.) is widely used in traditional medicine.

Objective: This study was designed to confirm this traditional use by assessing its antihyperglycemic capacity in vivo.

Methods: The effect of the aqueous extract of Euphorbia guyoniana (Boss. and Reut.) (60 mg/kg) on glycemia in both normal and diabetic rats was evaluated. The glycogen content in the liver and skeletal muscles (extensor digitorum longus and soleus) was measured. Furthermore, liver histopathological analysis was performed.

Results: The findings showed that Euphorbia guyoniana (Boss. and Reut.) exhibited a significant decrease in glycaemia in diabetic rats (from 20±2 mmol/l to 5.5 mmol/l after 6 hours of oral administration; p<0.0001 and from 20±2 mmol/l to 4.5 mmol/l after 7 days of once-daily repeated oral administration of the aqueous Euphorbia guyoniana extract; p<0.0001). In addition, the extract increased the glycogen content in the liver (41±4 mg/g versus 70±5 mg/g in normal and diabetic rats respectively) and extensor digitorum longus (39±4 mg/g versus 60±1 mg/g in normal and diabetic rats, respectively), and partially restored corporal weight in diabetic rats. Furthermore, this aqueous extract has been shown to suppress hyperglycemia induced by glucose load in treated diabetic rats. Additionally, hepatic histology in diabetic rats has been improved. This plant revealed the presence of several phytochemical constituents and possessed antioxidant activity.

Conclusion: The current study evidenced that Euphorbia guyoniana (Boss. and Reut.) has a beneficial effect on improving hyperglycemia and glycogen depletion in the diabetic state.