Aims: To investigate the effect of food blends (plantain, soybean and ginger) on the blood glucose, lipid profile and haematological indices on streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.
Methodology: A total of 35 rats of mean body weight 219.07 g separated into7 groups (5 per group) where induced by a single intraperitoneal (I.P) injection of streptozotocin (0.1 g dissolved in 5 ml of freshly prepared sodium citrate buffer 0.1 M, pH 4.5) at a dose of 40 mg/kg body weight after fasting for 12 hours and fed with flours/blends. The flours were produced from plant materials for different treatments/blends (blend A=100% unripe plantain, B=80% unripe plantain, 14% soybean, 6% ginger, C=70% unripe plantain, 26% soybean, 4% ginger, D= 60% unripe plantain, 38% soybean, 2% ginger, E= 50% unripe plantain, 50% soybean) and the phytochemicals and minerals content were determined. Blood glucose was determined at 5 days interval for 25 days. Diabetes was confirmed in rats with blood glucose concentrations >200 mg/dl. After 25 days rats were anaesthetized with chloroform vapour and blood samples collected by cardiac puncture for haematology and lipid profile determination.
Results: The results showed that unripe plantain, soya beans and ginger in adequate proportion(C=70% unripe plantain, 26% soybean, 4% ginger or D= 60% unripe plantain, 38% soybean, 2% ginger) could help to reduce blood glucose, improve haematological parameters and lipid profile. Significant reduction was observed in the blood glucose level of rats fed blends C and D from 286 to 85 mg/dl and 307 to 90 mg/dl respectively at the end of experiment. These results also demonstrated that the inclusion of ginger at 6% causes rise in blood glucose level. Total cholesterol (TC) increased in all the blends. However, the lowest concentration of TC was observed in blends C and D. The highest packed cell volume (60%) and Haemoglobin (20 g/dl) level observed in rats fed blend C was significantly higher than the normal control fed conventional feeds. The increase in packed cell volume (PCV) (50%) and Hb (17 g/dl) in diabetic rats demonstrated that the formulated blend C was able to raise PCV and Hb above 50% and 17 g/dl (Normal control NC) respectively. Significant increase (P<0.05) in low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) was also observed in all the blends with blend C having the least (4.0 mg/dl) close to NC (2.0 mg/dl).
Conclusion: From the results it is evident that blend C will manage and improve the health status of diabetic patients.
Chlorophytum borivilianum Root Extract Maintains near Normal Blood Glucose, Insulin and Lipid Profile Levels and Prevents Oxidative Stress in the Pancreas of Streptozotocin-Induced Adult Male Diabetic Rats
