In Mexico one in 14 deaths are caused by diabetes mellitus (DM) or by the macro and microvascular disorders derived from it. A continuous hyperglycemic state is characteristic of DM, resulting from a sustained state of insulin resistance and/or a dysfunction of β-pancreatic cells. Acaciella angustissima is a little studied species showing a significant antioxidant activity that can be used as treatment of this disease or preventive against the complications. The objective of this study was to explore the effect of oral administration of A. angustissima methanol extract on physiological parameters of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The results indicated a significant reduction in blood glucose levels, an increase in serum insulin concentration, a decrease in lipid levels and an improvement in the parameters of kidney damage by applying a concentration of 100 mg/Kg B.W. However, glucose uptake activity was not observed in the adipocyte assay. Moreover, the extract of A. angustissima displayed potential for the complementary treatment of diabetes and its complications likely due to the presence of bioactive compounds such as protocatechuic acid. This study demonstrated that methanol extract of Acacciella angustissima has an antidiabetic effect by reducing the levels of glucose, insulin and improved physiological parameters, hypolipidemic effect, oxidative stress and renal damage in diabetic rats.
Keywords: Acacciella angustissima; antidiabetic effect; polyphenolic; protocatechuic acid; streptozotocin-diabetic rats.