Protective Effects of Aerial Parts of Blumea lacera in Ameliorating the Hepatic key Enzymes and Carbohydrate Metabolizing Indices in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Background Blumea lacera Burm. f. DC (Asteraceae) is an erect herb with antioxidant and alpha-amylase inhibitory activities, rendering it a potential agent for the evaluation of antidiabetic activity. Methods Experimental diabetes was induced in albino Wistar rats by a single intraperitoneally injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg b.w.) dissolved in cold citrate buffer at pH 4.5. Different fractions of methanol extract of aerial parts of B. lacera were subjected to acute antidiabetic study in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats at a dose of 200 mg/kg tested up to 10 h. Methanol fraction (MFBL) at 100 and 200 mg/kg was administered to diabetic rats for sub-acute antidiabetic study. Serum biochemistry including lipid profile, insulin levels, and carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes as well as histopathology, were performed during the 30 days of interventional study. All the groups were compared with the standard drug Metformin. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of different fractions was conducted to identify the active compounds. Results MFBL showed a significant (P < 0.01) fall in blood glucose levels and hepatic enzymes in a dose-dependent manner in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. MFBL also modulated the activities of carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes, by significantly increasing the effects of hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and significantly reducing the effects of glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. The histopathology of liver and pancreas samples along with antioxidant study also supported biochemical observations. GC-MS analysis identified 17 major bioactive compounds including the antidiabetic agent, Myo-inositol, in different fractions. Conclusion The anti-diabetic effects of MFBL are attributed to its modulatory effects on carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes as well as the presence of antidiabetic phytochemical 'Myo-inositol' in MFBL. Further studies are warranted to identify multiple targets of active compounds present in B. lacera plant.