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Oral hypoglycaemic activity of Ipomoea aquatica in streptozotocin‐induced, diabetic wistar rats and Type II diabetics
Author(s) -
Malalavidhane T. S.,
Wickramasinghe S. M. D. N.,
Perera M. S. A.,
Jansz E. R.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.1345
Subject(s) - streptozotocin , ipomoea aquatica , diabetes mellitus , blood sugar , medicine , fasting blood sugar , endocrinology , traditional medicine , biology , biochemistry , spinach
Ipomoea aquatica Forsk is a common green leafy vegetable consumed in many parts of the world. The present study was designed to investigate the oral hypoglycaemic activity of Ipomea aquatica in streptozotocin induced diabetic Wistar rats, and Type II diabetic patients. Experimental diabetes was induced with streptozotocin in Wistar rats. The rats were then divided into test and control groups. In addition to the standard feed given to both groups the test was fed with the shredded leaves of Ipomoea aquatica (3.4 g/kg) for one week. Type II diabetic patients were subjected to a glucose challenge before and after a single dose of blended I. aquatica . Patients acted as their own controls. The results revealed that consumption of the shredded, fresh, edible portion of I. aquatica for one week, effectively reduced the fasting blood sugar level of streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats ( p = 0.01). When subjected to a glucose challenge, the Type II diabetic subjects showed a signicant reduction ( p = 0.001) in the serum glucose concentration 2 h after the glucose load. However, it was not signicantly reduced at 1 h ( p < 0.09) post glucose load. There was a 29.4% decrease in the serum glucose concentration of the diabetic patients when treated with the plant extract. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.