and Evaluation of the Antidiabetic Activity of Extracts.

Background: (Asteraceae) has been used for more than 700 years for treating cystitis, chronic nephritis, urolithiasis, rheumatism, and inflammatory diseases. However, the antidiabetic activity of has been rarely studied.

Methods: Three extracts of were prepared, and their antidiabetic potentials were evaluated by various cell-free, cell-based, and studies.

Results: We found that the contained multiple bioactive phytochemicals based on the GC-MS analysis. The extracts effectively inhibited the functions of the carbohydrate digestive enzyme (α-glucosidase) and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), as well as decreased the amount of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). In the L6 myotubes, the methanolic extract remarkably enhanced the glucose uptake the upregulation of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4). The extract also significantly downregulated the expression of PTP1B. In the streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic mice, the daily intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg/kg methanolic extract for 24 days, substantially lowered the postprandial blood glucose level with no obvious toxicity. The extract's anti-hyperglycemic effect was comparable to that of the glibenclamide treatment.

Conclusion: Our findings suggested that the extract might have great potential in the prevention and treatment of diabetes.