Antihyperglycemic effect of <i>Ipomea batatas</i> tuber diet in alloxan–induced diabetic and normoglycemic Wistar albino rats

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is ranked seventh among the leading causes of death and is considered third when its fatal complications are taken into account. This metabolic disorder can be managed controllably with proper diet, exercise and use of appropriate medications. The demand for plant products with anti-hyperglycaemic activity is on the increase owing to their perceived low cost, easy availability and negligible side effects relative to synthetic anti-diabetic drugs.

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the blood glucose – lowering potential of a carbohydrate – rich diet formulated using Ipomea batatas tuber flour (65%) in alloxan-induced diabetic and normoglycaemic albino rats. Effects of Ipomea batatas diet were compared with those of maize – diet (65%) and standard commercial animal feeds(control).

Method: The three diets were fed differently to both diabetic and normoglycaemic rats. Six groups of six rats each were kept on the diets for six weeks. Diabetes was induced using single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan(150 mg / kg). Effects of the diets on the activity of serum, alanine amino transferase(ALT), aspartate amino transferase(AST), alkaline phosphatise (ALP) were evaluated using Randox kits. Packed cell volume (PCV) was estimated. Proximate analyses of the feeds were also carried out using AOAC methods.

Results: The I. batatas, maize and commercial diets contained 28.00%, 23.00%,and 16.93% proteins; 16.10%, 17.30%, and 11.30% fats; 8.40%, 5.20%, and 7.10% crude fibre; and 43.90%, 51.30% and 58.87% carbohydrates, respectively, while their energy values were 432.5, 452.9 and 404.9(cal/g) respectively. Ipomea batatas diet significantly (p<0.05) reduced FBG of the diabetic rats only. No significant (p>0.05) reduction in FBG was observed in both diabetic andnormoglycaemic rats fed with the maize and control diets. Also, I. Batatas had no effect on ALT, AST, and PCV in both diabetic and normoglycaemic rats, but increased ALP activity in the diabetic rats.

Conclusion: Ipomea batatas (potatoes) tuber may be a suitable energy-rich food for the diabetics.

Keywords: Antidiabetic; Ipomea batatas; Energy-rich-antidiabetic diet; Antidiabetogenic- diet