Effect of Aqueous Sweet Potato Leaf Extract and Metformin on Some Biochemical Parameters in Streptozotocin- Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam] is the sixth most important food crop in the world.The sweet potato roots are a good source of carbohydrates, while sweet potato top (leaves ) contain additional nutritional components in much higher concentrations than in many other commercial vegetables. In this study, the effect of aqueous sweet potato leaf extract was carried out in streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats for 28days. The phytochemical screening indicated the presence of flavonoids, tannins, , terpenes, steroids, phenols , resins and absence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides. Diabetic rats exhibited high blood glucose, cholesterol, Triglycerol (TG) and Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) while High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) was very low. The continuous administration of extract at 400mg/kg body wt. for 28days significantly (P˂0.05) reverse these effects on cholesterol, TG, HDL and LDL while a similar result was also observe for metformin ; Rat dose = human dose(500mg) /Rat bodyweight x 7 treated group. The extract decreased significantly (P˃0.05) serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP),total and direct bilirubin which was significantly increased (P˂0.05) when compared to the control. After Administration of the plant extract, high level of cholesterol, triglycerides, and low density lipoproteins(LDL) were decreased (P<0.05) while the HDL (high density lipoproteins ) ,total protein ,and albumin were significantly increased (P<0.05). The present study revealed that aqueous sweet potato extract can effectively control some of the metabolic disorders that are associated with diabetics.