Evaluation of the Antidiabetic Efficacy of Indigenous Indonesian Ethnomedicinal Herbal Infusions in a Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Mouse Model

Abstract

Indonesia is abundant in natural resources, with approximately 35,000 species of higher plants, many known for medicinal properties. This study evaluated the antidiabetic effects of two herbal infusions in male Balb/c mice induced diabetes with streptozotocin (150 mg/kgBW intraperitoneally). The first infusion consisted of Syzygium polyanthum (bay leaves), Andrographis paniculata (sambiloto), and Tinospora crispa (brotowali stems), while the second was made from Syzygium cumini (jamblang bark). A pre- and post-test control group design was used following ethical approval. The mice were divided into five groups: positive control (metformin 65 mg/kgBW), negative control (physiological NaCl), and three test groups receiving herbal infusions at specific doses. Treatments were administered orally once daily for 21 consecutive days. Blood glucose levels were measured initially (day 0) and subsequently on days 7, 14, and 21 after 12-hour fasting periods. Infusions of Syzygium polyanthum, Andrographis paniculata, and Tinospora crispa was administered at doses of 1.95 g/20 gBW, 3.9 g/20 gBW, and 7.8 g/20 gBW, significantly reduced blood glucose levels compared to the negative control (p < 0.05). Similarly, Syzygium cumini bark infusions was administered at doses of 1.47 g/20 gBW, 1.76 g/20 gBW, and 2.06 g/20 gBW, also demonstrated significant reductions (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that the herbal infusions are effective in reducing blood glucose levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice and have potential as natural antidiabetic agents, demonstrating both efficacy and statistical significance.