EFFECT OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF IPOMOEA BATATAS (SWEET POTATO) LEAVES ON LIVER FUNCTION INDICES OF STZ-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Abstract The objective of the work is to investigate the ameliorative effect of ethanolic extract of Ipomoea batatas leaf on streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Thirty adult male Wistar rats were used for this study. They were divided into 6 groups as follows: Group 1 (the control) (n = 5) received distilled water daily ad libtum for the whole period of the study. Group 2 (Diabetic control) (n = 5) received 90 mg/kg/day of streptozotocin for single administration. Groups 3, 4 and 5 (n =5) received streptozotocin after which they received 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day each of Ipomoea batatas orally respectively. Group 6 (n = 5) received streptozotocin and in addition received 21.4 mg/kg/day each of metformin orally respectively, for fourteen days. Markers of liver function such as alaninine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline Phsphatase (ALP), Total bilirubin, and albumin were determined in the plasma. Streptozotocin treatment induced significant (p < 0.05) increases in ALT, AST, ALP, Total bilirubin and reduces albumin in the toxic control when compared to the normal control group. Post-treatment with Ipomoea batatas caused significant (p < 0.05) decreases in ALT, AST, ALP, Total bilirubin and increase in albumin in the treated groups when compared with the toxic control group. The results of this study indicated that Ipomea batatas ameliorated the abnormalities caused by streptozotocin in rats. Hence, the extract has the potential of being used for the management of diabetes mellitus.