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ABSTRACT
Diabetes mellitus, a complex metabolic disorder, is a growing global health concern with limited therapeutic options. This study aimed to investigate the potential effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Andrographis paniculata on streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats, focusing on key biomarkers in pancreatic tissue: malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). A total of 35 Wistar rats were divided into six (6) groups: aqueous control, diabetic control, aqueous extract untreated, ethanolic extract untreated, aqueous extracttreated and ethanolic extract-treated. Except for control groups, diabetes was induced in the latter groups using streptozotocin. After induction, rats received daily oral administration of either aqueous or ethanolic extracts of A. paniculata for 14 days. In this study, the impact of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of A. paniculata on STZ-induced diabetic rats was examined. Notably, both extracts demonstrated a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in MDA levels, indicative of decreased oxidative stress in the pancreas. Additionally, the extracts exhibited varying effects on GSH levels, with aqueous extract-treated rats showing a decrease (at p < 0.05), while ethanolic extract-treated rats displayed no significant change (p > 0.05). Interestingly, GPx activity remained relatively stable across groups. The study suggests that A. paniculata extracts may have a protective role in alleviating oxidative stress in pancreatic tissue, potentially contributing to improved glycemic control in diabetic rats. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and assess the potential therapeutic benefits of these extracts in managing diabetes mellitus.
