A study on the regenerative potential of the root and leaf extracts of Elephantopus scaber L.: An antidiabetic approachats through up-regulated heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression

Abstract

Ayurveda and other Indian literatures mentioned the use of plants in the treatment of various human ailments. Plants have been used by man as natural remedies from time immemorial.Elephantopus scaber L., belonging to the family Asteraceae, is a small perennial herb located in tropical climates. Anachuvady as it is called literally means “elephant’s foot”. Its leaves seem to grow as a bunch protruding from a point at the bottom. The leaves and the roots are used in treating diahorrea, liver disorders, tumors, inflammations and ulcers. Our present study indicates that the root and leaves of E. scaber (ES) can be used as a potent antihypergycemic agent. The phytochemical constituents of this plant indicate that it contains sequiterpene lactones, terpenoids, deoxyelephantopin, isodeoxyelephantopin and scab-ertopin. The crude extract of the leaf and root were prepared and Type I diabetes was experimentally induced in white albino Wistar rats (60 mg/kg body weight), after which they were divided into 9 groups of 6 rats each and analysed for various biological assays. They were later subjected to histopathological studies for investigating the regenerative potential of the plant. ES extracts reduced the blood glucose level, glycosylated hemoglobin, a change in the lipid profile and kidney functions, liver and muscle glycogen, serum insulin levels and histopathological studies. We conclude that ES extracts possess regenerative properties which are exhibited in the destructed pancreas and ethyl acetate root extract and methanol leaf extract of E. scaber L. However, they performed better as compared to other extracts, which paved way for further research in bringing about a permanent remedy for diabetes. Key words: Elephantopus scaber L., streptozotocin, hypoglycemic, glycosylated hemoglobin (HBA1C), serum insulin, liver and muscle glycogen, plasma glucose, lipid profile and kidney function tests, regeneration.