EFFECT OF UNRIPE PLANTAIN AND GINGER ON BLOOD GLUCOSE AND MARKERS OF PANCREATIC DYSFUNCTION IN STREPTOZOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS BY IROAGANACHI MERCY.A. DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY ABIA STATE POLYTECHNIC, ABA.

INTRODUCTION Plantain (Musa paradisiaca) is consumed as an energy yielding food. Several investigators have reported the antidiabetic potentials of unripe plantain (Eleazu et al.,2010) in animal models of diabetes. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is one of the most common spices that are used to add flavour to meals. Although studies have shown the antidiabetic effect of ginger (Morakinyo et al.,2011) in experimental animals, the possibility of combining unripe plantain and ginger in a typical diabetic diet and the blood glucose response elicited has not been investigated.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the effect of a dietary combination of unripe plantain and ginger on blood glucose, serum amylase and lipase in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Materials and methods Plant materials Unripe plantain obtained from Umuahia main market in 2013 was identified by Mr Ibe (Forestry Department ; Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike). Ginger obtained from National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike was identified by Mr Ibe and Dr Amadi (National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike).

Processing of plant materials Samples were processed and oven dried at 70°C to constant weight. They were then pelletized using the feed formulation shown in Table 1 and 2, oven dried at 80°C to constant weight before being fed to the rats.

Parametersgkg -1 Unripe plantain flour810 Soybean90 Vitamin mixture40 Salt20 Groundnut oil40 Table 1: Composition of unripe plantain incorporated feeds

Table 2: Composition of unripe plantain + ginger incorporated feeds Parametersgkg -1 Unripe plantain flour710 Ginger flour100 Soybean90 Vitamin mixture40 Salt20 Groundnut oil40

Chemicals Streptozotocin used was a product of Sigma – Aldrich Chemical Company, UK. Every other chemical used was bought from HosLab, Umuahia and was of analytical grade.

Animals 48 rats (male) obtained from University of Nigeria, Nsukka were kept in standard rat cages. They were acclimatized for 2 weeks and maintained under 12-hour light and dark cycle and at room temperature.

Induction of diabetes Freshly prepared solution of streptozotocin was injected intraperitoneally to 43 of the rats at a single dosage of 65mg/kg body weight at fasting state. Fasting blood glucose levels > 200mg/dl after 12 days of STZ induction were considered to be diabetic and used for the study.

Experimental procedure 4 groups of five rats each; Group 1: Normal rats fed standard rat feed Group 2: Diabetic control rats fed standard rat feed. Group 3: Diabetic rats fed unripe plantain incorporated feed. Group 4: Diabetic rats fed unripe plantain + ginger incorporated feed.

Determinations Serum amylase and lipase were determined using the Biosystems diagnostic kit.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS Table 3. Fasting blood glucose (mg/dL), amylase and lipase levels of rats GroupsAnimals Initial fasting blood glucose Final fasting blood glucose Percentage change Pancreatic amylase (U/L) Pancreatic lipase (U/L) Group 1 Non-diabetic control 83.75±4.98 a 85.50±12.39 a i/c ±40.93 b 11.60±6.10 a Group 2Diabetic control ± b ±62.56 c i/c 81.44±2.24 ab 45.85±8.46 d Group 3 Diabetic + unripe plantain ± b 97.20±11.10 a d/c ±13.64 b 21.60±13.51 b Group 4Diabetic + unripe plantain + ginger ±24.04 c ±54.56 b d/c 63.42±32.20 a 35.40±23.78 c Values are means ± SD. a-d Means with different superscripts along the column are significantly different (p<0.05). i/c – increase ; d/c - decrease

CONCLUSION Unripe plantain was more effective than its combination with ginger in modulating blood glucose and pancreatic enzymatic activities of the diabetic rats.