Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder mainly characterized by obesity, hyperglycemia, altered lipid profile, oxidative stress, and vascular compromise. Physalis peruviana is a plant used in traditional Colombian medicine for its known activities of glucose regulation. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-diabetic activity of the butanol fraction from an extract of Physalis peruviana calyces in two doses (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg) in induced type 2 diabetic mice. Blood glucose levels were evaluated once a week, demonstrating that a dose of 100 mg/kg resulted in greater regulation of blood glucose levels in mice throughout the experiment. The same overall result was found for the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA- IR). The lipid profile exhibited improvement compared to the non-treated group, a dose of 100 mg/kg having greater protection against oxidative stress (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and malondialdehyde levels). Histopathological findings in several tissues showed structure preservation in most of the animals treated. The butanol fraction from Physalis peruviana at 100 mg/kg showed beneficial results in improving hyperglycemia, lipidemia, and oxidative stress status, and can therefore be considered a beneficial coadjuvant in the therapy of diabetes mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major global public health concern, prompting the ongoing search for new treatment options. Medicinal plants have emerged as one such alternative. Our objective was to evaluate the antidiabetic effect of an extract from the leaves of Passiflora ligularis (P. ligularis). For this purpose, T2DM was first induced in mice using a high-fat diet and low doses of streptozotocin. Subsequently, an aqueous extract or an ethanolic extract of P. ligularis leaves was administered for 21 days. The following relevant results were found: fasting blood glucose levels were reduced by up to 41%, and by 29% after an oral glucose overload. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was reduced by 59%. Histopathologically, better preservation of pancreatic tissue was observed. Regarding oxidative stress parameters, there was an increase of up to 48% in superoxide dismutase (SOD), an increase in catalase (CAT) activity by 35% to 80%, and a decrease in lipid peroxidation (MDA) by 35% to 80% in the liver, kidney, or pancreas. Lastly, regarding the lipid profile, triglycerides (TG) were reduced by up to 30%, total cholesterol (TC) by 35%, and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) by up to 32%, while treatments increased high-density lipoproteins (HDL) by up to 35%. With all the above, we can conclude that P. ligularis leaves showed antihyperglycemic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant effects, making this species promising for the treatment of T2DM.

Background/Objectives: An extract of calyces from Physalis peruviana with hypoglycemic activity is being considered as a potential herbal medicine. Preclinical pharmacokinetics (PK) studies of the extract in rats, focusing on plasma concentrations of its main compound, rutin, and its metabolites, revealed PK interactions in the extract matrix that improved the absorption of rutin metabolites compared to the pure compound, among other PK effects. This research aimed to study the PK of rutin alone and in the extract and assess potential PK interactions in the extract matrix on the flavonoid and its metabolites in rabbits, a nonrodent species; Methods: Animals received pure rutin or extract orally and intravenously. The PK analysis used noncompartmental and population pharmacokinetics (popPK) methods, and simple allometry was applied to predict human PK parameters; Results: The rutin concentration–time profile fit a two-compartment model with first-order elimination, while its metabolites fit a double first-order absorption model. The extract matrix led to increased absorption, distribution, and elimination of rutin as well as increased bioavailability of its metabolites in rabbits; Conclusions: The popPK model defined the equations for PK parameters describing these findings, and the increased volume of distribution and clearance of rutin was maintained in human predictions. These results will support the development of a new herbal medicine.

Background/Objectives: Previous studies have shown that unformulated extracts of Passiflora ligularis leaves exhibit promising antidiabetic activity. This research aimed to demonstrate that formulating the extract into a self-emulsifying drug delivery system (PLE-SEDDS) enhanced its antidiabetic activity in a high-fat-diet/streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse model. Methods: Blood glucose levels (BGLs) of diabetic mice were monitored during 21 days of oral administration of P. ligularis extract (PLE) and PLE-SEDDS. Control groups included metformin (positive control), vehicle, and SEDDS vehicle (negative controls). The animals underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The oxidative stress markers superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and lipid peroxidation quantified by malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in the kidney, liver, and pancreas, complemented with histopathological analysis. Additionally, plasma lipid profile parameters were evaluated. Results: The PLE-SEDDS formulation demonstrated superior efficacy compared to the PLE extract in improving antidiabetic outcomes. Animals treated with PLE-SEDDS exhibited a minimal increase in blood glucose levels (11.5%) during the OGTT, compared to 27.4% with PLE and over 77% in the vehicle groups. PLE-SEDDS also showed greater enhancement of SOD and CAT activity, along with a more pronounced reduction in MDA levels, indicating stronger protection against oxidative stress. Histological analysis revealed significant preservation of pancreatic islets, and lipid profile analysis showed greater reductions in triglycerides, cholesterol, and LDL-C, alongside increased HDL-C levels. Conclusions: Altogether, these findings suggest that PLE-SEDDS exhibits superior antihyperglycemic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant effects compared to the unformulated extract, making this novel formulation a promising option for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus.