Effect of Artemisia herb on induced hyperglycemia in wistar rats

The study was carried out to evaluate the hypoglycemic effect of Artemisia herb aqueous extract on postprandial blood glucose in normoglycemic and dexamethasone-induced hyperglycemic Wistar rats. Sixty adult male Wistar rats were used; rats were assigned to six equal groups (10 per each). Hyperglycemia had been induced in 40 rats by injection of a single dose of dexamethasone (8 mg/2 ml, s.c.). Normal groups drenched the herb extract orally and with drinking water in 100%, and 50% concentration (NA100%, NA50%) respectively. After induction and ensuring of hyperglycemia, distil water (DW), and the (PIA100%, PIA50%) treated groups with herb extract 100%, 50% concentration respectively, finally the (M) group (metformin 500mg/ml) was treated by drenched with metformin 500 mg orally for 10 consecutive days for all group. Results were revealed that drenching of Artemisia herba- alba herb 100% aqueous extract has a highly significant (p<0.01) hypoglycemic effect on postprandial blood glucose in both normoglycemic and hyperglycemic rats comparing to normal values and to metformin respectively, whereas hypoglycaemic effect of Ah extract 50% was significant (p<0.05) on postprandial blood glucose in normoglycemic rats comparing to normal values and highly significant (p<0.01) in hyperglycemic rats comparing to metformin. It can be concluded that drenching of aqueous extract of Ah has potent hypoglycemic effect in experimentally induced hyperglycemic rats.