Beneficial effects of Smallanthus sonchifolius (Yacon) root in diabetic intestinal dysfunction

CHAILE R.E.; HEMSY A.; CABRERA W.; GENTA S.B.; SÁNCHEZ S.S.; HONORÉ S.M.

Horco Molle, Tucumán

Congreso; XXXI Jornadas Científicas Asociación de Biología de Tucumán; 2014

Asociación de Biología de Tucumán

Diabetes is associated with gastrointestinal complications characterized by nausea, vomiting, early satiety, bloating and abdominal discomfort or pain. It has been established that nutrition has an impact on the physiological and pathological functions of the gastrointestinal tract. In this work we investigate the effect of Smallanthus sonchifollius (yacon) roots as a dietary supplement in an experimental model of diabetes in rodents. Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into the following groups: control, control supplemented with 340 mg flour yacon/kg bw (control+Y), diabetic (STZ) and diabetic supplemented with 340 mg of flour yacon/kg bw) (STZ+Y). Diabetes was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg bw). Rats with blood glucose levels >350 mg/ml were selected as STZ group. The administration of yacon flour for 30 days did not modify the levels of glucose, insulin, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol in STZ+Y animals. However, the levels of triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol were significantly reduced in this group. Although body weight of STZ+Y animals did not change significantly compared to STZ group, the food intake decreased slightly. Treatment with yacon flour kept the size and weight of small intestine and colon of STZ+Y animals within normal values. Interestingly, the cecum showed marked hypertrophy in all groups of animals that consumed yacon. These changes were accompanied by an increased substance P and decreased Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) expression. The histological analysis showed that yacon consumption prevents alterations in the size and number of enteric ganglia of STZ+Y animals. Our results indicate that treatment with yacon roots prevents the development of morphological and functional changes in the diabetic intestine.