title: Ashanti pepper (Piper guineense Schumach et Thonn) attenuates carbohydrate hydrolyzing, blood pressure regulating and cholinergic enzymes in experimental type 2 diabetes rat model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ashanti pepper (Piper guineense Schumach et Thonn) seed is well known in folkloric medicine in the management of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) with little or no scientific documentation for its action. This study investigated the effect of Ashanti pepper seed on some enzymes relevant to carbohydrate hydrolysis, blood regulation and the cholinergic system, as well as the blood glucose level, lipid profile, antioxidant parameters, and hepatic and renal function markers in T2DM rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  T2DM was induced by feeding rats with high-fat diet (HFD) for 14 days followed by a single intraperitoneal dose of 35 mg/kg body weight of streptozotocin (STZ). Three days after STZ induction, diabetic rats were placed on a dietary regimen containing 2%-4% Ashanti pepper.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reduced blood glucose level with decreased α-amylase, α-glucosidase and angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) activities were observed in Ashanti pepper seed and acarbose-treated rat groups when compared to that of the diabetic control rat group. Furthermore, the results revealed that inclusion of 2%-4% Ashanti pepper seed in diabetic rat fed group diets may ameliorate the lipid profile, antioxidant status, and hepatic and renal function in T2DM rats as much as in the acarbose-treated groups. In addition, a chromatographic profile of the seed revealed the presence of quercitrin (116.51 mg/g), capsaicin (113.94 mg/g), dihydrocapsaicin (88.29 mg/g) and isoquercitrin (74.89 mg/g).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results from this study clearly suggest that Ashanti pepper could serve as a promising source of phenolic compounds with great alternative therapeutic potentials in the management of T2DM.
authors.forename: Stephen Adeniyi
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Adefegha
authors.forename: Ganiyu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oboh
authors.forename: Omowunmi Monisola
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Adefegha
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D006868:Hydrolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D031701:Piper; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D000516:alpha-Amylases; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases