Arctium lappa Lam. and Its Related Lignans Improve Hyperglycemia and Dyslipidemia in Diabetic Rodent Models: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Research on nutraceuticals has focused on reducing the onset, progression, and significant consequences of diabetes mellitus. Arctium lappa Lam. is a great source of plant fibers and polyphenols that have anti-disease benefits, including those for diabetes mellitus. This study sought to determine the impact of Arctium lappa Lam. extracts and its associated lignans on diabetic hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia by conducting meta-analyses of the available research using diabetic rodents. English-language peer-reviewed articles were searched by PubMed and Embase up until 10 August 2022. Included were studies comparing the blood glucose and/or lipid levels of diabetic rodents given either extracts of Arctium lappa Lam. and its related lignans or vehicles. Blood glucose levels were reported in 16 studies involving 168 diabetic mice or rats treated with Arctium lappa Lam. and 168 diabetic controls. The pooled effect size was −1.42 [95% CI: −1.84 to −1.00] with significant heterogeneity. Type of diabetic model was found to be the prominent covariate that explained, at least partially, the heterogeneity. Moreover, diabetic rodents treated with Arctium lappa Lam. showed a notable improvement in their hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia.