Acute hypoglycemic effect and phytochemical composition of Ageratina petiolaris.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Type 2 diabetes is characterized by tissue resistance to the action of insulin combined with a relative deficiency in insulin secretion. In Mexico, medicinal plants have traditionally been used to control the disease; in this work, we investigate the hypoglycemic effect of Ageratina petiolaris, a plant used in Mexico for the treatment of diabetes.

Methods: The hypoglycemic effects of aqueous and methanolic extracts prepared from aerial parts of Ageratina petiolaris in streptozotocin-nicotinamide (STZ-NA) induced diabetic rats were assessed. An oral administration of the water extract at doses of 40 and 160mg/kg and of the methanol extract at doses of 67 and 268mg/kg were evaluated. Furthermore, the water extract at 160mg/kg was evaluated under an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test.

Results: The tested extracts were able to reduce the increase in blood glucose level at three hours after administration. l-chiro-inositol and chlorogenic acid were isolated as important constituents of the plant, they were identified in both extracts along with other constituents.

Conclusions: The results presented here demonstrate that the main components in the aqueous extract of Ageratina petiolaris are chlorogenic acid and l-chiro-inositol, the last one with significant hypoglycemic activity, these results support the traditional use of this plant for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.