Assessing the acute hypoglycemic effects of Jefea lantanifolia (S. Schauer) Strother and its main compounds in rats

Jefea lantanifolia is traditionally used in the Mexican state of Hidalgo for T2D treatment. The aerial parts of the plant are used to prepare an infusion, which is drunk throughout the day. However, the effectiveness and active ingredients of this plant in controlling blood glucose levels are still unknown. This study aims to investigate whether traditional doses of infusion (AE) and ethanol: water (EWE) extracts and the main chemical constituents of J. lantanifolia have hypoglycemic effect in fasting and postprandial states in a STZ-NA-induced hyperglycemic rat model. Phytochemical studies led to the isolation and identification of luteolin ( 1 ); 2β-hydroxy-dimerostemma brasiolide-1- O -(3-hydroxymethacrylate) ( 2 ); homoplantaginine ( 3 ); cynarin ( 4 ), luteolin 7- O -glucoside ( 5 ) and nepitrin ( 6 ) as the main compounds. The extract was safe at 2 g/kg b. w. in acute toxicity studies. According to in vivo studies, all treatments markedly improved blood glucose levels in fasting states. Compounds 2 and 3 reduced blood glucose levels the most, by 42 and 40%, respectively, while glibenclamide decreased blood glucose by 51%. In the postprandial state, all treatments effectively reduced elevated glucose levels, particularly compounds 3 and EWE. Our findings provide preliminary support for the traditional use of J. lantanifolia as a complementary diabetes treatment in the fasting and postprandial states and highlight the main constituents as promising candidates for more research. Further studies are needed to conduct more thorough biological investigations, including long-term therapeutic efficacy as well as the use of higher concentrations of the compounds and the evaluation of potential risks associated with higher doses. Publication History Article published online: 05 March 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany