Anatomy & Physiology: Current Research
Open Access

Abstract

Modulation of Carbohydrate Metabolic Enzymes by Portulaca oleracea Aqueous Extract in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats

Naiho AO, Ovuakporaye SI, Odigie OM and KK Anachuna

Also known as “grape sugar”; Glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) is a simple sugar that forms a major constituent of carbohydrate and fatty foods. It is often given off as by-product of carbohydrate metabolism with defiant breakdown manifesting in clinical pathologies like diabetes mellitus (DM) and its related complications. Current study was designed to determine the effect of Potarica Oleracea extract on selected enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in diabetic wistar rats. Twenty one (21) Wistar rats of between 150 – 200 g were assigned into three groups of seven (7) rats each. While group I received standard rat diets and water ad libitum (control), groups II and III were administered with 140 mg/kg body weight of Alloxan Monohydrate (DM induced) and Alloxan Monohydrate + P. oleracea aqueous extract (400 mg/kg body weight) respectively. After four (4) weeks of administration of test substances, rats were euthanized, and blood samples obtained (via cardiac puncture) for biochemical analysis. Liver was then harvested and homogenate was prepared for analysis of liver enzyme levels. After carefully subjecting obtained data to student t-test and one way analysis of variance (ANOVA); using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS version 21). In the end, study observed a maintained, steady growth throughout a period of 14 days of experimentation, with a significant reduction in the growth of diabetic untreated rats.

Also, group II rats showed a statistically significant increase with maintained higher blood glucose level compared to control on the third, seventh and fourteenth days of experimentation, while group III had a had a significant decrease in blood glucose levels over the period of experiment, suggestive of a consistent destruction of the beta cells of the islet of langherans. Again, there was an insignificant change in Hexokinase and Fructose 1, 6, Bisphosphatase of group II, compared to group I rats, implicative that alloxan diabetes may increase the rate of glycolysis. Further studies aimed at corroborating efforts from this work is recommended.

Published Date: 2020-03-06; Received Date: 2020-02-18