ANTIDIABETIC EFFECT OF CONYZA AEGYPTIACA (L.) DRYAND EX. AITON IS IMPROVED BY SWIMMING IN RAT

Conyza aegyptiaca (C. aegyptiaca) is one medicinal plant used for the treatment of diabetes by African populations. We showed previously that C. aegyptiaca is not toxic in rats, prevents hepatic glucose release and has anti-hyperglycemic properties. In addition to medical treatment, clinicians recommend the practice of Sport and Physical Activity (SPA) in diabetics. Objective: To determine C. aegyptiaca extracts anti-diabetic effect alone and with SPA in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Serum glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) transaminases, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), Creatinine (Creat.), potassium (K+), chloride (Cl-), sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) were measured using ELITech reagents. Results: C. aegyptiaca extracts decreased significantly glucose level in diabetic rats compared to control. SPA induced a further decrease in blood glucose in the group treated with Eth. Ext. (p=0.045). In diabetic rats without treatment, SPA induced a significant decrease in blood glucose on day 14 (p=0.047) compared to untrained rats. C. aegyptiaca extracts combined with SPA significantly decreased Creat. (p=0.008), ASAT (p=0.0007), ALT (p=0.045), LDL-C (p=0.01), TG (p=0.007), CT (p=0.045) and increased HDL-C (p=0.008), Na+ (p=0.047) level in diabetic rats compared to untrained diabetic. Conclusion: Our results suggest that C. aegyptiaca has greater antidiabetic properties when aqueous extracted, and the practice of SPA improves these properties.