Antidiabetic effect of fermented <i>Pennisetum glaucum</i> (millet) supplement in alloxan induced hyperglycemic wistar rats

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a debilitating disease that is characterized clinically by hyperglycemia due to chronic and/or relative insulin insufficiency. The disease is associated with disturbance in lipid and protein metabolism. Pennisetum glaucum (PG) has been recommended for several therapeutic purposes as it has been shown to have high amount of magnesium which helps to increase the levels of adiponectin hormone but the hypoglycemic effect of millet as a supplement is yet to be fully elucidated. Therefore this research was designed to determine the effect of Pennisetum glaucum supplement on blood glucose level and serum lipid profile. Diabetes mellitus was induced by single intraperitoneal (i.p) injection of alloxan dissolved in 0.1ml fresh cold citrate buffer pH 4.5 at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight, after which the rats were randomly divided into 5 groups. Group 1 normoglycemic, Group 2 Diabetic untreated, Group 3 Diabetic treated with 1 mg/kg of Glibenclamide (GB). Group 4 Diabetic treated with 33%w/v P.G. supplement, Group 5 Diabetic treated with 66% P.G. supplement. When compared with the diabetic control, the study revealed a significant decrease (p>0.05) in blood glucose level at both 33%w/v and 66% w/v P.G. supplementation. It also showed that P.G. at both 33% and 66% supplement was able to lower Triglycerides and LDL serum levels as well increase HDL serum levels although not statistically significant, but significantly restored HDL/Cholesterol and Triglycerides/HDL ratios to normal physiological range. Pennisetum glaucum supplementation showed high hypoglycemic effect and also hypolipidemic property in alloxan induced hyperglycemic wistar rats.

Keywords: Pennisetum glaucum, hypolipidemia, hyperglycemia