Bidens pilosa is used in folk medicine for various applications due to the presence of polyacetylenes, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenylpropanoids and others. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of different extracts of B. pilosa leaf showed potential in vitro anticancer and antimalarial activity and led to the identification of a potential marker compound, phenyl-1,3,5-heptatriyne. Erythrocyte osmotic fragility experiments revealed the various extracts as well as the marker component’s toxicity profiles on normal blood cells. ATCC:American Type Cell Culture Collection DMSO:dimethyl sulphoxide MTT:3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide NBT:nitro blue tetrazolium PES:phenazine ethosulphate pLDH:parasite lactate dehydrogenase ROS:reactive oxygen species

In diabetes mellitus, uncontrolled hyperglycemia has been reported to induce oxidative stress, which may lead to health complications. Vitamin D, however, acts as a non-enzymatic antioxidant to protect cells against oxidative stress and damage. To investigate the antioxidative effect of vitamin D combined with calcium in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Rats were divided into four groups (ten rats in each group). The first group (control) received a normal diet and water. The second group, including STZ-induced diabetic rats (diabetic controls), received a normal diet and water. The third group, also including STZ-induced diabetic rats, received vitamin D (2000 IU/day) with calcium (500 mg/kg/day) orally for 28 consecutive days. The fourth group consisted of STZ-induced diabetic rats that received insulin treatment for 28 consecutive days. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPO) and catalase were measured in the liver tissues. The level of malonaldehyde (MDA) was measured in the plasma. Diabetic rats showed a significant decrease in the activities of SOD, GPO and catalase compared to normal rats. Oral administration of vitamin D with calcium to diabetic rats caused a significant increase in the activities of SOD, GPO and catalase compared with the untreated group. Furthermore, the plasma level of MDA was significantly elevated in diabetic rats compared to normal rats. Diabetic rats treated with vitamin D and calcium had a significantly reduced level of MDA, suggesting that vitamin D with calcium played a vital role in the protection of tissues from damage by free radicals. Oral supplementation with vitamin D and calcium may be a useful treatment for diabetic patients to reduce/prevent the pathological complications of diabetes.