Introduction: Indian medicinal plants used in the Ayurveda traditional system to treat diabetes and to scavenge free radicals are a valuable source of novel anti-diabetic agents. Alpha amylase inhibitors offer an effective strategy to lower the level of postprandial hyperglycemia via control of starch breakdown. Plant extracts also possesses free radical scavengers which can be used to treat various diseases like cancer. Extracts of Xanthium Strumarium L. have been considered as hypoglycemic and antioxidant agents.

Materials and Methods: In this study, we evaluated antioxidant potential and hypoglycemic potential of methanolic extracts of root, stem, leaves and fruits of the plant by DPPH method and DNSA assay respectively.

Results: Results showed that all plant parts showed very good antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities with low IC₅₀ values.

Discussion: results of present study showed that maximum salivary alpha amylase inhibitory activity was shown by methanolic extract of root with minimum IC₅₀ value i.e.46.70 μg/ml and maximum free radical scavenging activity was shown by methanolic extract of fruits with minimum IC₅₀ value i.e. 0.016 μg/ml. Root extract also show good antioxidant potential.

Conclusion: The results of this study direct researchers to evaluate the therapeutic potential of secondary metabolites in the management of post prandial hyperglycemia and type II diabetes mellitus either alone or in combinatorial therapy.