The aim of this study is to evaluate antioxidant activity and hypoglycemic effect of methanol extract of Ampelodesma mauritanica. The first part of this study evaluates the levels of total phenolics and total flavonoids content in A. mauritanica and determines its antioxidant potential. To study the total antioxidant activity ofA. mauritanica, Vitamin C Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (VCEAC) was evaluated by using ABTS [2, 2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic)] radical scavenging capacity assay. In the second part, the methanol extract obtained from the aerial part of A. mauritanica plant was tested on normal glucose-fed hyperglycemic mice to evaluate its efficacy as a hypoglycemic agent. The methanol extract injected intraperitoneally into mice significantly reduced blood glucose level, in dose-dependant manner (P < 0.05). This acute effect presents a comparable glucose lowering effect with the oral hypoglycemic drug, glibenclamide.

Ampelodesma mauritanica belongs to family Poaceaeis a plant native of northern Africa and southern Europe, perennial and luxuriant growing spontaneously in wild state around the Mediterranean basin. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, cardenolides and tannins (Toudert et al., 2009a; and Toudert et al., 2009b). It is observed that in some regions of Algeria, the aerial parts of A. mauritanica have been used for reducing the blood glucose levels in diabetics.

On the other hand, traditional medicinal plants have been employed successfully since ancient times. So, diabetes has been treated orally with several medicinal plants. There is a growing interest in herbal remedies, which are apparently effective, produce minimal or no side effects and are of relatively low cost compared to oral synthetic hypoglycemic agents. Therefore, the search for effective and safer hypoglycemic agents has continued to be an important area of active research. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that is increasing at an alarming rate and has serious complications affecting the retina, kidney, limb amputation and nervous system (Raskin et al., 2000; Atalay and Laaksonen, 2002; Memisogullari et al., 2003; and Davis, 2006).

Diabetes is becoming the third cause of death, after cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The disease is characterized by elevated blood glucose concentration and caused by insufficiency of insulin secretion and/or insulin action (Mazze, 1994; and Bastaki, 2005). Many serious side effects of insulin therapy and oral hypoglycemic agents necessitated the search for newer effective and safer class of compounds to overcome diabetic problems.

Biotechnology Journal, Hypoglycemic Activity, Ampelodesma Mauritanica, Traditional Medicinal Plants, Oral Synthetic Hypoglycemic Agents, Nervous System, Cardiovascular Diseases, Pharmacology Laboratory, Experimental Data, Experimental Groups, Pharmacological Investigations, Chemical Investigations.