Antihyperglycemic and metabolic regulatory effects of Artemisia vulgaris L. in alloxan-induced diabetic female wistar rats

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most prevalent endocrine disorders worldwide. Although insulin therapy, pharmacotherapy, and dietary management are commonly used to control the disease, medicinal plants are increasingly being explored for the management of diabetes and its associated complications. This study investigated the antihyperglycemic and metabolic regulatory effects of Artemisia vulgaris L. aqueous extract, with emphasis on its nutrient-enhancing properties, on glucose homeostasis and diabetes-associated metabolic dysfunction in alloxan-induced diabetic female Wistar rats. Forty-two female Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 7): control, diabetic control, and diabetic groups treated with different doses of A. vulgaris extract. Diabetes was induced using a single intraperitoneal dose of alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg body weight). The extract was administered orally once daily for 30 days. At the end of the treatment period, fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, and LDL-C), serum proteins (total protein and albumin), renal function markers (urea and creatinine), and liver enzyme activities (AST, ALT, and ALP) were determined. Percentage change in body weight was also calculated. Alloxan-induced diabetes significantly (p < 0.05) decreased body weight, HDL-C, total protein, and albumin, while increasing FBG, AST, ALT, ALP, urea, creatinine, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-C. Treatment with A. vulgaris extract significantly ameliorated these alterations in a dose-dependent manner. Body weight increased from 161.0 ± 0.5–201.9 ± 2.9 g after induction to 166.7 ± 0.9–259.7 ± 3.6 g following treatment, while FBG decreased from 4.09 ± 0.04–4.64 ± 0.06 mmol/L to 2.96 ± 0.07–3.68 ± 0.03 mmol/L. Renal and hepatic function markers, as well as lipid profile parameters, also improved across all treatment groups, with the 400 mg/kg dose producing effects comparable to the standard antidiabetic drug.