ABSTRACT

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia. Herbal medicines are gaining attention due to their safety and therapeutic potential. This study evaluated the antidiabetic and neuroprotective activity of methanolic extract of Euphorbia hirta in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Diabetes was induced in Wistar rats using STZ (28 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). Animals were divided into five groups: normal control, diabeticcontrol, extract-treated groups (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg), and standard metformin-treated group (450 mg/kg). Blood glucose levels were estimated using the GOD/POD method. Diabetic neuropathy was assessed using tail flick and hot plate latency tests. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett's test. Results: The methanolic extract of Euphorbia hirta significantly reduced elevated blood glucose levels in a dose-dependent manner. The higher dose (100 mg/kg) demonstrated marked antihyperglycemic activity comparable to metformin. Significant improvement in thermal latency indicated protective effects against diabetic neuropathy. The findings suggest that Euphorbia hirta possesses significant anti-diabetic and neuro protective properties and may serve as a promising plant-based therapeutic agent for diabetes management. Keywords: Euphorbia hirta, Methanolic extract, Antidiabetic activity, Neuroprotective activity, Streptozotocin-induced diabetes
Publication date: 2026/10/01

https://www.ijbpas.com/pdf/2026/October/MS_IJBPAS_2026_10554.pdf

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doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2026/15.10.10554