Effect of yacon leaf extract and enhydrin on the endocrine pancreas of diabetic rats

SERRA BARCELLONA C.; HONORÉ SM; HABIB NC.; SÁNCHEZ SS; GENTA SB

Horco Molle, Tucuman

Congreso; XXX Annual Scientific Meeting Tucuman Biology Association; 2013

Tucuman Biology Association

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia. Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) is an Andean crop used in traditional medicine. In our laboratory we demonstrated that leaves decoction and its main lactone enhydrin were effective in reducing blood glucose levels and useful in the treatment of diabetic animals. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of Yacon leaf extract and enhydrin on the endocrine pancreas to establish one of its possible mechanisms of action. The decoction and enhydrin were given to diabetic rats for 30 days at a daily dose of 140 mg/kg b.w. and 0.8 mg/kg b.w., respectively. Blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) and insulin levels were determined in plasma. Immunohistochemical studies were performed on pancreas of diabetic animals with anti-insulin antibody. Oral administration of decoction and enhydrin resulted in a significant decrease in blood glucose and HbA1c levels at end of the treatment. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that treatment produced a significant increase in b-cell numbers. However, no changes were detected in plasma insulin levels during the experimental period. Our results suggest that Yacon leaf decoction and enhydrin improves the diabetic state by increasing the mass of positive insulin cells in the pancreas.