Biochemical basis of the use of cocoyam (Colocassia esculenta L.) in the dietary management of diabetes and its complications in streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats

ObjectiveTo investigate the biochemical basis of the anti-diabetic action of cocoyam [Colocassia esculenta (C. esculenta)] in streptozotocin diabetic rats.MethodsBlood glucose of the rats was measured with a glucometer. The relative heart weight, relative pancreatic weight, serum proteins, urea, creatinine, albumin, amylase, lipase, serum and hepatic aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and chemical analysis of the test feed were determined using standard techniques.ResultsThe diabetic rats fed with cocoyam had significant elevation (P<0.05) of relative pancreatic weight, hepatic AST, ALT, ALP and serum proteins and albumin, but had significant reduction (P<0.05) of blood glucose, serum urea, creatinine, amylase, lipase, AST, ALT and ALP compared with the diabetic control rats while these parameters were significantly altered (P<0.05) in the diabetic control rats compared with the non-diabetic rats. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in the relative heart weights of all the rats in the three groups. The test feed contained considerable amounts of phenolics, crude fiber, Ca, Fe, K, Na but low amounts of oxalate and phytate.ConclusionsC. esculenta may exert its anti-diabetic action by delaying/regulating the rate at which dietary starch is hydrolyzed to glucose or possibly through inhibition of acute pancreatitis. Finally, the study also shows the potentials of C. esculenta in the dietary management of obesity.