In Vivo Evaluation Of The Hypoglycemic And Antidiabetic Effects Of Berberis Vulgaris And Borago Officinalis Leaf Extracts In Experimental Models

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia, and the search for safe, affordable, plant-based antidiabetic agents remains a global research and public-health priority. The present empirical study evaluated the in vivo hypoglycemic and antidiabetic potential of aqueous-ethanolic leaf extracts of Berberis vulgaris and Borago officinalis, administered singly and in combination, using streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats. Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and glycosides in both extracts. Acute toxicity testing up to 2000 mg/kg produced no mortality or behavioral abnormality, indicating a wide safety margin. Forty-two rats were randomly assigned to six groups (n = 7): normal control, diabetic control, glibenclamide 5 mg/kg, B. vulgaris 400 mg/kg, B. officinalis 400 mg/kg, and combined extract 200 + 200 mg/kg. Fasting blood glucose was measured on days 0, 7, 14, and 21; an oral glucose tolerance test was performed on day 18; and at the end of 21 days serum lipid profile, HbA1c, and hepatic markers were quantified. The combined extract reduced fasting blood glucose by 58.8 percent (289 to 119 mg/dL), restored body weight, and significantly improved the lipid profile compared with the diabetic control (p < 0.05). B. vulgaris alone produced a 54.0 percent reduction and B. officinalis a 48.8 percent reduction. These findings establish a clear, dose-dependent, and synergistic antidiabetic effect that is consistent with the central hypothesis stated at the outset and supports the development of these leaf extracts as complementary antidiabetic phytomedicines worthy of further translational investigation.