Evaluation of the Antidiabetic and Antioxidant activities of ochthochloa compressa in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

Ochthochloa compressa (Forssk.) Hilu is a medicinal grass of the Poaceae family reported to possess antidiabetic and antioxidant phytoconstituents, but its poor aqueous solubility limits the oral bioavailability of the unformulated extract. This study aimed to formulate a phospholipid-complexed phytosome of O. compressa extract and to evaluate its antidiabetic and antioxidant activity in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The phytosome was prepared by the thin-film hydration method using soy phosphatidylcholine and optimised across four extract-to-phospholipid ratios. The optimised formulation (1:3) showed a particle size of 217.2 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.324, a zeta potential of −28.6 mV, and an entrapment efficiency of 89.5%. FTIR confirmed extract–phospholipid interaction, and SEM revealed a nanostructured particulate morphology. In vitro release was sustained, reaching 76.4% at 8 hours. Diabetes was induced in Wistar rats by a single intraperitoneal dose of STZ (60 mg/kg); animals were then treated orally for 15 days with glibenclamide (0.5 mg/kg) or the phytosome (100 or 300 mg/kg). The phytosome produced a dose-dependent reduction in fasting blood glucose, improved body weight and lipid profile, lowered elevated liver and kidney function markers, and restored SOD, catalase, GSH and MDA levels toward normal, with the 300 mg/kg dose approaching the efficacy of glibenclamide. Pancreatic histopathology showed preserved islet architecture in phytosome-treated groups relative to the diabetic control. These findings indicate that phytosome complexation is a promising strategy for improving the antidiabetic and antioxidant performance of O. compressa extract.