Control of hyperlipidaemia, hypercholesterolaemia and hyperketonaemia by aqueous extract of Dioscorea dumetorum tuber

Rachel Nimenibo–Uadia

doi:10.4314/tjpr.v2i1.14584

Abstract

Dioscorea dumetorum (Pax) used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus possesses hypoglycaemic effect. The present study investigates the effect of oral administration of the aqueous extract of the tuber on blood lipid and ketone levels in alloxan–induced diabetic rats. Method: Wistar strain albino rats were made diabetic with the intraperitoneal administration of alloxan monohydrate. Consequently, an aqueous extract of Dioscorea dumetorum tuber was administered orally to the diabetic rats and their plasma and urine glucose, triacylglycerol, cholesterol and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations were estimated using standard procedures. Results were compared with untreated normal and diabetic control rats. Phytochemical screening of the extract of the tuber was also carried out. Results: Treatment with the extract significantly (p Conclusion: From this study, the tuber has proved not only to be an effective hypoglycaemic agent, but also possesses significant (p Keywords: Alloxan, β-hydroxybutyrate, diabetes, cholesterol, Dioscorea dumetorum, triacylglycerol Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research 2003; 2(1): 183-189

Highlights

Dioscorea dumetorum Pax is commonly known as bitter yam or cluster yam[1]
Rats injected with alloxan monohydrate had several fold increases in the levels of urine and plasma glucose
There were significant increases in plasma triacylglycerol, cholesterol and βhydroxybutyrate concentrations in the diabetic rats when compared with normal control (Tables 2, 3 and 4)

Summary

Introduction

Dioscorea dumetorum Pax (family: Dioscoreaceae) is commonly known as bitter yam or cluster yam[1]. This work was aimed at investigating the effect of the aqueous extract of the Dioscorea dumetorum tuber on blood triacylglycerol, cholesterol and βhydroxybutyrate levels in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced within 72 hr in groups 1 and 2 rats by intraperitoneal administration of alloxan monohydrate (Sigma Chemical Company, St. Louis, MO, USA) dissolved in distilled water (5%) in a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight.

Results

Conclusion