Investigation of the antidiabetic effect of Artemisia haussknechtii Boiss. plant extracts in experimental diabetes rats

In our study, the effects of ethanol leaf extract and ethanol nanoparticle extract of Artemisia haussknechtii Boiss. at different doses were investigated in female rats with experimentally induced diabetes. Prior to the experiment, an acute toxicity test with 1000 mg/kg of DYEE and DYNE was conducted over 72 hours, and no mortality was observed. The study included 48 rats divided equally into six groups: Normal Control (NK), Diabetic Control (DK), Diabetic + Plant Leaf Ethanol Extract 50 mg/kg (DYEE1), Diabetic + Plant Leaf Nanoparticle Ethanol Extract 50 mg/kg (DYNE1), Diabetic + Plant Leaf Ethanol Extract 100 mg/kg (DYEE2), and Diabetic + Plant Leaf Nanoparticle Ethanol Extract 100 mg/kg (DYNE2). Experimental diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of STZ at a dose of 45 mg/kg. During the 21-day experimental period, blood glucose levels and body weights of the subjects were measured weekly. Extracts were administered orally via gavage. At the end of the experiment, the following findings were observed based on the measurements: levels of glucose, AST, ALT, LDH, HbA1c, urea, creatinine, TC, TG, and LDL were elevated in the DK group compared to NK, while DYEE and DYNE groups showed reductions compared to DK. Significant reductions were observed in DYEE2 and DYNE2 groups compared to DK. HDL levels were lower in diabetic groups compared to NK, but higher in DYEE and DYNE treated groups compared to DK. MDA levels in three tissues were significantly elevated in the DK group, whereas these parameters were measured near NK levels in the experimental groups. Histopathological examinations revealed tissue damage in the DK group, while tissue morphology in DYEE2 and DYNE2 groups was significantly improved compared to DK. In conclusion, ethanol leaf extracts and nanoparticle ethanol extracts of Artemisia haussknechtii Boiss. are suggested to exhibit antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, antidiabetic, and antioxidative effects against diabetes-related complications.