Anti-diabetic effect of Artemisia annua [kaysom] in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Diabetes is the most common endocrine disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. Nowadays, herbal drugs are gaining popularity in the treatment of diabetes and its complications. The current study was aimed at evaluating the significance of supplementation of Artemisia annua [Kaysom] extract in reducing the metabolic abnormalities accompanied with alloxan-induced diabetes in male albino rats. Thirty male albino rats were divided equally into three groups including control, diabetic and diabetic treated with Kaysom extract. A single dose of alloxan [120 mg/kg body weight] was used to induce diabetes in rats. Diabetic rats were administered Kaysom extract orally twice daily for 30 days. At the end of the experimental period, level of serum fasting insulin and glucose in addition to serum lipids profile such as total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG], high density lipoproteins [HDL], low density lipoproteins [LDL], and very low density lipoproteins[VLDL]; serum proteins including total proteins, albumin and globulin; renal markers [creatinine, urea and uric acid] and activity of certain enzymes such as aspartate aminotransferase [ASAT], alanine aminotransferase [ALAT] and gamma-glutamyltransferase [GGT] was determined for all groups. In. addition, estimation of% change of body weight, values of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR] and ratios of albumin:globulin [A:G], TC/HDL, LDL/HDL [risk ratios 1 and2] were calculated for each group. Diabetic rats showed a marked decline [p<0.01] in the level of; serum insulin, body weight [4.98%], total proteins, albumin, globulin and HDL accompanied with marked elevation [p<0.01] in level of; fasting blood glucose, HOMA_IR, ASAT, ALAT, GGT, urea, creatinine, uric acid, serum TC, TG, LDL, VLDL and ratios of TC/HDL and LDL/HDL [risk factors] as compared to the corresponding of controls. Supplementation of diabetic rats with Kaysom extract significantly ameliorated most of the estimated biochemical parameters. These results demonstrate that Kaysom extract may be of advantage in inhibiting hyperglycemia and ameliorating metabolic abnormalities induced by diabetes

Anthelmintic effect of artesunate in experimental heterophyid infection

Artesunate is a water-soluble semi-synthetic drug derived from artemisinin which is extracted from leaves of the Chinese plant Artemisia annua. This successful bas-ically-antimalarial drug has been proved to be also effective against trematodes like Schistosoma japonicum, S. mansoni, Fasciola hepatica and Clonorchis sinensis, The present work aimed to investigate the in-vivo efficacy of artesunate against heterophyids in mice, using praziquantel as a therapeutic control. Results showed that artesunate was effective in treatment of experimental heterophyidiasis as proved by a 100% reduction of intestinal adult worm count at a dose regimen of 200 mg/kg/day, given for 3 successive days. Besides, surface tegumental damage of the adult worm was observed by SEM in form of bleb formation, disruption, erosion and peeling. The proved therapeutic efficacy of artesunate together with its reported safety, favor its possible use as a new alternative therapy in human heterophyidiasis