Treatment of Diabetic Condition in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Wister Rats Using Food Blends Such as Unripe Plantain, Soybean and Ginger

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.