Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Potential application of Conyza canadensis (L) Cronquist in the management of diabetes: In vitro and in vivo evaluation

Huma Aslam¹, Arif-ullah Khan¹ , Humaira Naureen¹, Fawad Ali², Farhat Ullah³, Abdul Sadiq³

¹Riphah Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Riphah International University, Islamabad; ²Department of Pharmacy, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat; ³Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Chakdara 18000, Dir (L), KPK, Pakistan.

For correspondence:- Arif-ullah Khan Email: arif.ullah@riphah.edu.pk Tel:+9251289183538

Accepted: 10 June 2018 Published: 28 July 2018

Citation: Aslam H, Khan A, Naureen H, Ali F, Ullah F, Sadiq A. Potential application of Conyza canadensis (L) Cronquist in the management of diabetes: In vitro and in vivo evaluation. Trop J Pharm Res 2018; 17(7):1287-1293 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v17i7.9

© 2018 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the antihyperglycemic activity of Conyza canadensis via α-glucosidase inhibition in alloxan-induced diabetic mice.

Methods: In vitro antidiabetic activity was investigated using α-glucosidase inhibition assay with acarbose (62.5, 125, 500 and 1000 µg/ml) as the standard drug. Conyza canadensis crude extract (Cc.Cr) in doses of 10, 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg were administered daily as a single dose to alloxan-induced (200 mg/kg) diabetic mice (Balb/c), and its effect on fasting blood glucose levels and body weight were evaluated for 15 consecutive days; oral glucose tolerance test was conducted. Metformin (500 mg/kg) was used as a standard antidiabetic drug for comparison. Acute toxicity of Cc.Cr was also evaluated at doses of 3 and 5 g/kg.

Results: Conyza canadensis crude extract (Cc.Cr) exhibited strong enzyme inhibition at concentrations (µg/ml) of 1000 (74.78 ± 0.92), 500 (65.11 ± 0.07), 250 (57.55 ± 0.41), 125 (51.55 ± 0.67) and 62.5 ( 44.00 ± 0.57), with a median inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 107 µg/ml. Cc.Cr at all test doses (10 - 300 mg / kg) reduced fasting blood glucose levels in alloxan (200 mg/kg) - induced diabetic mice on days 5, 10 and 15 compared to the diabetic control group (p < 0. 001). These effects were similar to those caused by the standard antidiabetic drug, metformin. Cc.Cr at all test doses also increased body weight of treated animals. The extract (300 mg/kg) significantly improved tolerance of oral glucose overload in mice, like metformin. The extract did not cause any mortality up to the maximum dose of 5 g/kg.

Conclusion: The results reveal that Conyza canadensis possesses potent secondary metabolites which can cause inhibition of α-glucosidase. Moreover, the plant extract has the ability to reduce blood glucose level in diabetic animals and significantly improves oral glucose overload tolerance.

Keywords: Conyza canadensis, ^5;-Glucosidase, Blood glucose, Alloxan, Diabetes, Glucose tolerance