FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING AND HYPOGLYCEMIC POTENTIAL OF CENTRATHERUM ANTHELMINTICUM

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complex metabolic disease characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia commonly associated with oxidative stress. The current study aims at assessing the antioxidant and antidiabetic potential of various concentrations of hydroalcoholic extract of Centratherum anthelminticum. The in vitro antioxidant activity was assessed using 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrilhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide, hydroxyl ion and hydrogen peroxide for free radical scavenging properties of the extracts, and determining their phenol and flavanoid contents. The antidiabetic activity was tested in rats following streptozotocin diabetes induction. The in vitro antioxidant activity using DPPH, nitric oxide radical, hydroxyl radical and H₂O₂ radical showed IC₅₀ value 68.27 ± 0.34, 82.05 ± 0.46, 113.49 ± 0.86 and 94.71 ± 0.78  μg/ml respectively. The hydroethanol extract of plant seed (250, 500 and 750 mg/Kg) exhibited significant antidiabetic activities with 40.46%, 56.37% and 52.15% glycaemia reduction, respectively. These findings suggest that C. anthelminticum seeds possess both antidiabetic and antioxidant properties, and therefore could be used as starting point for the development of herbal medicines and/or source of new drug molecules against diabetes