Aim: The current study was carried out in order to assess the antihyperglycemic effect of Scorzonera undulata (S. undulata).

Backgroud: Scorzonera undulata subsp. deliciosa (DC.) Maire is used in the Moroccan pharmacopeia for managing diabetes.

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the anithyperglycemic activity in normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats as well as the acute toxicity of the aqueous extract of the roots of Scorzonera undulata (S. undulata).

Methods: This study investigated the effects of the root aqueous extract of Scorzonera undulata (AERSU) at a dose of 20 mg/kg on blood glucose levels in normal and streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats and the acute toxicity of AERSU was examined. Histopathological examination, preliminary phytochemical investigation, determination of glycogen content and evaluation of α-amylase were also performed.

Results: Both single and repeated oral doses of AERSU (20 mg/kg) produced a significant reduction in blood glucose levels in normal and diabetic rats. Furthermore, repeated oral administration of AERSU during 15 days increased the glycogen content in the liver in both normal and diabetic rats, inhibited α- amylase activity and improved the histological architecture of the liver and pancreas in treated diabetic rats and ameliorated some biochemical parameters such as ALT and AST. In addition, the preliminary phytochemical investigation showed the richness of the roots of S. undulata in certain phytochemicals particularly in polyphenols.

Conclusion: AERSU exhibits an evident antihyperglycemic activity. This pharmacological effect may be due to the protection of surviving pancreatic β cells and hepatocytes, effect of α-amylase and the improvement of glycogen storage in the liver. The dose used in this study seems to be free of any toxicity.

目的：目前的研究是为了评估 Scorzonera undulata (S. undulata) 的抗高血糖作用。

背景：Scorzonera undulata subsp。deliciosa (DC.) Maire 在摩洛哥药典中用于管理糖尿病。

目的：本研究的目的是评估正常和链脲佐菌素 (STZ) 诱导的糖尿病大鼠的降血糖活性以及 Scorzonera undulata (S. undulata) 根水提物的急性毒性。

方法：本研究调查了 20 mg/kg 的马尾草根水提物对正常和链脲佐菌素 (STZ) 诱导的糖尿病大鼠血糖水平的影响，并检查了 AERSU 的急性毒性。还进行了组织病理学检查、初步植物化学研究、糖原含量测定和α-淀粉酶评估。

结果：单次和重复口服剂量的 AERSU (20 mg/kg) 均显着降低了正常和糖尿病大鼠的血糖水平。此外，在 15 天内重复口服 AERSU 增加了正常和糖尿病大鼠肝脏中的糖原含量，抑制了 α-淀粉酶活性，改善了治疗糖尿病大鼠的肝脏和胰腺的组织结构，并改善了一些生化参数，如ALT 和 AST。此外，初步的植物化学调查表明，S. undulata 的根富含某些植物化学物质，特别是多酚。

结论：AERSU 具有明显的抗高血糖活性。这种药理作用可能是由于保护了存活的胰腺β细胞和肝细胞，α-淀粉酶的作用以及改善肝脏中糖原的储存。本研究中使用的剂量似乎没有任何毒性。