title: The aqueous extract of Asparagus officinalis L. by-product exerts hypoglycaemic activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The inedible bottom part of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) spears, around one-third to one-half of the total length, is always discarded as by-product. Since it still contains various bioactive substances, this by-product might have potential usage in food supplements for its therapeutic effects. In this study the hypoglycaemic effect of the aqueous extract of asparagus by-product (AEA) was evaluated in a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Continuous administration of AEA for 21 days significantly decreased fasting serum glucose and triglyceride levels but markedly increased body weight and hepatic glycogen level in diabetic rats. In an oral glucose tolerance test, both the blood glucose level measured at 30, 60 and 120 min after glucose loading and the area under the glucose curve showed a significant decrease after AEA treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study demonstrate that AEA has hypoglycaemic and hypotriglyceridaemic functions, suggesting that it might be useful in preventing diabetic complications associated with hyperglycaemia and hyperlipidaemia.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jingjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xinglei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ruipo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Weijing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D027761:Asparagus Plant / Q000737:chemistry*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D005525:Food-Processing Industry / Q000191:economics; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000517:prevention & control; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis* / Q000191:economics; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013311:Streptozocin / Q000633:toxicity; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007220:Industrial Waste; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013311:Streptozocin; D006003:Glycogen