Abstract
Tropical Solanum species contains a high level of phenolic acids and flavonoids, which were found to inhibit some key enzymes associated with the incidence of type 2 diabetes in in vitro and in vivo models based on earlier studies. This study was further designed to compare the nutritional properties, glycemic index, and hypolipidemic and the antioxidant effects of three species of tropical eggplant fruit (Solanum kumba, Solanum aethiopicum, and Solanum gilo) diet on streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced nephrotoxicity in male Wistar rats. The animal model was subjected to high‐fat diet prior to interperitional administration of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg wt); thereafter, the rats were given supplemented eggplant fruit diet, which lasted for 14 days. Determination of lipid content [triglycerides (TG), low‐density lipoproteins (LDLs), high‐density lipoproteins (HDLs), and total cholesterol (TC)], was assessed, while the liver biomarker enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), also endogenous enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), were determined. Histopathological assessment of inflammation was carried out on kidney while the blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid, and creatinine level on the kidney function were determined. The results showed that the groups with supplemented eggplant diet had significant (p < 0.05) reduction in lipid profile, decreased leakages of the liver, and kidney function enzymes while there was restoration of depleted endogenous antioxidant enzymes. The inflammatory cells and fat deposit from the histopathological view were reduced. However, S. kumba had the best nutritional output.
Highlights
Diabetes has been typified as insulin resistance in which the major organs, liver, adipose and muscle tissues, are not quick to react to the action of insulin, as well as destruction of beta cells of islets of Langerhans which compromised the secretion of insulin produced (Reaven, 1995)
| 110 to proteins or lipids which have caused elevated blood glucose, and these have led to increased level of generation of reactive oxygen
These radicals are involved in the oxidation of protein in cellular structures, in the oxidation of lipids which have led to cell injury associated with the pathology of vascular disease resulting in poor health and death in type II diabetes (Ghoul, 2012)
Summary
Diabetes (type II) has been typified as insulin resistance in which the major organs, liver, adipose and muscle tissues, are not quick to react to the action of insulin, as well as destruction of beta cells of islets of Langerhans which compromised the secretion of insulin produced (Reaven, 1995). Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and its complications such as myocardial infarction, hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis, hypertension, retinopathy, neuropathy (Ghoul, 2012) are increased if not properly managed due to various mechanisms such as oxidation of glucose and interaction of sugar molecules. Increased oxidative stress invariably increased the production of reactive oxygen species that is known as free radicals These radicals are involved in the oxidation of protein in cellular structures, in the oxidation of lipids which have led to cell injury associated with the pathology of vascular disease resulting in poor health and death in type II diabetes (Ghoul, 2012). The tropical species of eggplant such as Solanum kumba, Solanum aethiopicum, and Solanum gilo are commonly found in all season in Nigeria, West Africa They are consumed daily in different forms such as in soup and stew, eaten raw either used as fruits or vegetables. This present study further determines the effect of this eggplant diet supplementation on STZ-induced nephrotoxicity in male Wistar rats and assesses their hypolipidemia and antioxidant properties as well as the nutritional and glycemic index
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