Antidiabetic and antihyperglycemic activities of Scoparia dulcis L. Extracts: a systematic review and meta-analysis of in vivo studies

Scoparia dulcis L. is a pantropical medicinal plant traditionally used in Brazil, Asia, and Africa to manage diabetes. This study systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed the effects of S. dulcis extracts and isolated compounds on glycemic outcomes in animal models of diabetes. PubMed, Embase, and Scopus were searched through February 2026 in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. In vivo preclinical studies evaluating glycemic outcomes after treatment with S. dulcis were included. Risk of bias was assessed using a modified CAMARADES checklist, and treatment effects were pooled as standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Aqueous, ethanolic, and methanolic extracts, as well as the isolated alkaloid coixol, significantly reduced blood glucose at 60 min (SMD = − 4.15; 95% CI: −6.03 to − 2.27), 120 min (SMD = − 3.59; 95% CI: −5.07 to − 2.11), 1 week (SMD = − 3.47; 95% CI: −4.45 to − 2.48), and 2 weeks (SMD = − 5.61; 95% CI: −7.15 to − 4.06) (all p < 0.0001). Heterogeneity was substantial (I2 = 61–73%). The aqueous extract consistently showed the greatest effect. These findings support the traditional use of S. dulcis and provide a rationale for future clinical trials evaluating its antidiabetic potential.