title: Ameliorative potentials of cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta L.) and unripe plantain (Musa paradisiaca L.) on the relative tissue weights of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the ameliorating potentials of cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta L.) and unripe plantain (Musa paradisiaca L.) incorporated feeds on the renal and liver growths of diabetic rats, induced with 55 and 65 mg/kg body weight of Streptozotocin.
  
  
  METHODS
  The blood glucose level of the rats was measured with a glucometer, the protein and glucose and specific gravity (SPGR) in the urine samples of the rats were measured using urine assay strips and urinometer respectively. The chemical composition and antioxidant screening of the test feeds were carried out using standard techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Administration of the test feeds for 21 days to the diabetic rats of groups 4 and 5, resulted in 58.75% and 38.13% decreases in hyperglycemia and amelioration of their elevated urinary protein, glucose, SPGR, and relative kidney weights. The diabetic rats administered cocoyam incorporated feeds, had 2.71% and 19.52% increases in weight and growth rates, the diabetic rats administered unripe plantain incorporated feeds had 5.12% and 29.52% decreases in weight and growth rates while the diabetic control rats had 28.69%, 29.46%, 248.9% and 250.14% decreases in weights and growth rates. The cocoyam incorporated feeds contained higher antioxidants, minerals and phytochemicals except alkaloids than unripe plantain feed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cocoyam and unripe plantain could be useful in the management of diabetic nephropathy.
authors: Department of Biochemistry, National Root Crops Research Institute, P.O. Box 380, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria. eleazon@yahoo.com
authors: C O
authors: CO
authors: Eleazu
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Iroaganachi
authors: K C
authors: KC
authors: Eleazu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D031060:Colocasia; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D028521:Musa; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D010936:Plant Extracts
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