Korean J Nutr.  2006 Jul;39(5):433-443.

Effects of Allium Vegetable Intake on Levels of Plasma Glucose, Lipid and Minerals in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

• Ahn YM
• Lim SJ
• Han HK
• Choi SS

Abstract

The effects of Allium vegetables on blood glucose levels and lipid metabolism in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats were investigated. Diabetes mellitus was induced by STZ injection (45 mg/kg b.w.) into the tail vein. Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 220+/-10 g were randomly assigned to 7 groups: normal, STZ-control and five Allium groups (Allium cepa, Allium fistulosum, Allium sativum, Allium tuberosum and Allium victorialis) . Normal and STZ-control groups were fed an AIN-93 diet and five Allium groups were fed a modified diet containing 10% Allium powder each for 4 weeks. Body weight, diet intake, food efficiency ratio (FER) and organ weights were monitored. Activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were observed. Plasma levels of glucose, free fatty acid, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol were analyzed. Levels of glycogen, cholesterol and triglyceride in liver were determined. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver, lung, kidney, and pancreas were assayed. The hepatic contents of chromium (Cr) , iron (Fe) , zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) were measured. The Allium sativum group had weight gain and suppressed a hypertrophy of the kidney significantly. The activity of ALT was significantly lowered in the diabetic groups except Allium sativum group compared to STZ-control group. The Allium sativum and Allium tuberosum groups showed the hypoglycemic effects at 4 weeks. There were no significant differences between the control and all the other diabetic groups in the plasma levels of cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and free fatty acids. Most of the Allium groups except Allium fistulosum were observed significantly lowered level of MDA in the lung compared to STZ-control group. The diabetic rats fed the Allium cepa and Allium sativum have shown significantly lowered hepatic Zn contents. The results suggested that the intake of the Allium vegetables may be effective in the antihyperglycemia by lowering blood glucose levels.

Keyword

Aliium vegetable; hypoglycemic effect; lipid level; mineral level

MeSH Terms

Alanine Transaminase
Allium*
Animals
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Blood Glucose*
Body Weight
Chive
Cholesterol
Chromium
Diabetes Mellitus
Diet
Eating
Fatty Acids, Nonesterified
Garlic
Glucose
Glycogen
Hypertrophy
Hypoglycemic Agents
Iron
Kidney
Lipid Metabolism
Liver
Lung
Malondialdehyde
Manganese
Minerals*
Onions
Organ Size
Pancreas
Plasma*
Rats*
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Streptozocin*
Triglycerides
Vegetables*
Veins
Weight Gain
Zinc
Alanine Transaminase
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Blood Glucose
Cholesterol
Chromium
Fatty Acids, Nonesterified
Glucose
Glycogen
Hypoglycemic Agents
Iron
Malondialdehyde
Manganese
Minerals
Streptozocin
Triglycerides
Zinc