Diabetes Metab J.  2014 Oct;38(5):366-374. 10.4093/dmj.2014.38.5.366.

Effect of Livingstone Potato (Plectranthus esculenthus N.E.Br) on Diabetes and Its Complications in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetes in Rats

• Eleazu CO
• Eleazu KC
• Ironkwe A
• Iroaganachi MA

• KMID: 2280681
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4093/dmj.2014.38.5.366

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The effect of livingstone potato (Plectranthus esculenthus N.E.Br) on diabetes and its complications in Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats was investigated. The duration of the experiment was 4 weeks.
METHODS
The blood glucose level of the rats was measured with a glucometer, the protein and glucose and specific gravity in the urine samples of the rats were measured using urine assay strips and urinometer respectively. The liver and kidney function parameters in the serum of the rats were determined using Biosystem Kits.
RESULTS
The diabetic rats given livingstonepotato incorporated feeds, had 129.7% decrease in their hyperglycemia with corresponding amelioration of their elevated urinary protein, sugars, specific gravity, renal growth, liver growth as well as 15.64% decrease in body weights compared with the nondiabetic rats that had 5.54% decrease in blood glucose and 20.39% increase in body weight unlike the diabetic control rats that had 18.34% decrease in blood glucose and 52.68% decrease in body weight. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the relative liver, pancreas, and kidney weights of the diabetic rats given livingstone potato feeds compared with the diabetic control while there were no significant differences (P>0.05) in the relative heart weights of all the rats in the three different groups. In terms of liver and kidney function parameters, values obtained for the diabetic rats given livingstone potato incorporated feeds were not significantly different from that of the nondiabetic rats except for total bilurubin, aspartate transaminase, and creatinine (P>0.05) while they were significantly different from the values obtained for the diabetic control rats (P<0.05). In addition, the serum amylase of the diabetic control rats were significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of the nondiabetic and diabetic rats treated with livingstone potato incorporated feeds.
CONCLUSION
Results show the antidiabetic actions of livingstone potato and its ability to ameliorate glomerular complication and liver hypertrophy in diabetics.

Keyword

Diabetic complications; Incorporated feeds; Livingstonepotato; Rats; Streptozotocin

MeSH Terms

Amylases
Animals
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Blood Glucose
Body Weight
Carbohydrates
Creatinine
Diabetes Complications
Glucose
Heart
Hyperglycemia
Hypertrophy
Kidney
Liver
Pancreas
Rats*
Solanum tuberosum*
Specific Gravity
Streptozocin*
Weights and Measures
Amylases
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Blood Glucose
Carbohydrates
Creatinine
Glucose
Streptozocin

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Serum amylase and lipase levels of nondiabetic, diabetic control, and diabetic rats administered livingstone potato (rizga) incorporated feeds. a,b,cMeans with different superscripts for each enzyme are significantly different (P<0.05).

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