Abstract
Context
Fructose consumption is associated with the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in human and animal models.
Objective
This study investigates the ability of an aqueous extract of Artemisia herba-alba Asso (AH) to ameliorate fructose-induced MetS in Male Wistar rats.
Methods
AH extract at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w./day was administered for six weeks to MetS animals.
Results
Liquid fructose (10% w/v) intake did not vary total animal body weight, whereas, it produced moderate hyperglycemia associated with metabolic and histological alterations. Treating MetS rats with AH extract improved insulin sensitivity, alleviated atherogenic dyslipidaemia and decreased lipid deposition in their hepatic tissues. Additionally, AH extract was found to raise GSH level and antioxidant enzymes (GPx, GST and CAT) activities in rat livers homogenates.
Conclusion
The results here reported demonstrated, for the first time, that A. herba-alba have therapeutic proprieties against fructose-induced MetS in rodent model.
Acknowledgements
The authors express their thanks to Dr. Djamel Sarri (M'Sila University, Algeria) for his kind help in the plant identification.
Disclosure statement
The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.