# Metabolic and Antioxidant Modulation by Artemisia indica Willd. Aqueous Extract in Glucose and Cholesterol Dysregulation

## TL;DR

This study shows that an extract from Artemisia indica Willd. helps regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels by reducing oxidative stress and improving metabolic health in mice.

## Contribution

The study identifies 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid as a key compound in Artemisia indica Willd. extract and demonstrates its therapeutic potential for metabolic dysregulation.

## Key findings

- AAE reduced fasting blood glucose and fructosamine levels in mice.
- AAE modulated lipid metabolism by decreasing SREBP-1 and FAS expression.
- AAE inhibited oxidative stress and restored antioxidant enzyme activities.

## Abstract

Artemisia indica Willd., a traditional medicinal and dietary herb, has been widely recognized for its diverse bioactivities. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Artemisia indica Willd. aqueous extract (AAE) on dysglycemia and dyslipidemia. HPLC–ESI–MS/MS analysis identified 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid as the major active constituent of AAE. BALB/cByJNarl mice subjected to a high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ) injection were supplemented with AAE for 6 weeks. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, we examined multiple metabolic pathways, including oxidative stress, lipid metabolism, and the polyol pathway. AAE administration attenuated fasting blood glucose and reduced fructosamine levels and also ameliorated protein kinase C α (PKC-α) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) expression. Histopathological evaluation showed that AAE reduced lipid accumulation by modulating sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP-1) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) expression. Additionally, AAE inhibited polyol pathway activation and restored antioxidant enzyme activities. Collectively, these findings indicate that AAE modulates glucose and cholesterol metabolism, attenuates oxidative stress, and improves metabolic homeostasis, supporting its potential as a natural herbal therapeutic agent.