Phytochemical and Preliminary Biological Evaluation of Acanthus balcanicus Aqueous Extract in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, and lipid metabolism dysregulation, leading to severe systemic complications. Increasing interest has been directed toward plant-derived bioactive compounds as potential therapeutic alternatives. The present study aimed to comparatively evaluate the phytochemical profile and biological effects of Acanthus balcanicus and Vaccinium myrtillus in a streptozotocin-induced experimental model of diabetes mellitus. Methods: Aqueous extracts of both plant species were prepared and characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography and spectrophotometric assays to determine phenolic and flavonoid content. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH radical scavenging method. In vivo experiments were conducted on streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice over a five-week period, evaluating glycemic levels, lipid profile, body weight, food and water intake, and oxidative stress markers, including SOD, GPx, GR, and lipid peroxidation. Results: Both extracts exhibited antioxidant activity and contained measurable amounts of phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Acanthus balcanicus demonstrated higher radical scavenging capacity, whereas Vaccinium myrtillus showed higher total flavonoid content. In vivo, administration of the plant extracts was associated with improvements in selected metabolic parameters compared with untreated diabetic animals. In…
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