Evaluation of antidiabetic activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Rosmarinus officinalis in alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar albino rats

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia and increased oxidative stress, leading to progressive pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and systemic complications. The long-term use of conventional antidiabetic drugs is often limited by adverse effects, prompting the search for safer therapeutic alternatives. Rosmarinus officinalis, a phenolic-rich medicinal plant, has shown promising antioxidant and metabolic regulatory properties. Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of Rosmarinus officinalis in alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar albino rats. Methods: Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal administration of 2% alloxan monohydrate. Forty rats were divided into five groups (n = 8): normal control, diabetic control, standard (Metformin 5 mg/kg), extract 100 mg/kg, and extract 600 mg/kg. Treatments were administered orally for 14 days. Fasting blood glucose levels were measured on days 1, 7, and 14. Antioxidant enzyme levels—superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and reduced glutathione (GSH)—along with lipid peroxidation measured as malondialdehyde (MDA), was assessed at the end of the study. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by post hoc tests. Results: Alloxan induced significant hyperglycemia and oxidative stress in diabetic rats. Treatment with Rosmarinus officinalis extract produced a dose-dependent reduction in fasting blood glucose levels, with the 600 mg/kg dose reducing glucose levels to 111.2 ± 10.2 mg/dL by day 14, comparable to Metformin (110.3 ± 2.2 mg/dL). Antioxidant enzyme levels were significantly restored in extract-treated groups, with SOD, CAT, and GSH values approaching normal levels. Lipid peroxidation was significantly reduced, as evidenced by decreased MDA levels (1.92 ± 0.16 nmol/mg protein) in the high-dose group. Conclusion: The hydroalcoholic extract of Rosmarinus officinalis exhibits significant antidiabetic and antioxidant activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats, supporting its potential as a complementary therapeutic agent in diabetes management.