Anti-diabetic effect of isoflavone rich kudzu root extract in experimentally induced diabetic rats

Abstract

The anti-diabetic effect of isoflavone-rich kudzu extract obtained using natural deep eutectic solvent was assessed in diabetic wistar rats treated at doses of 100 mg/kg or 200 mg/kg for 28 days. Effect of treatment was based on weight, glucose tolerance, fasting glucose and glycated haemoglobin level, hepatic biochemical parameters, expression of anti-insulin and Ki67 antibodies, and histopathological evaluation of pancreas and kidney tissues. We found overall improvement in weight in diabetic rats treated with the extract at dose 200 mg/kg, but not at dose of 100 mg/kg. Plasma level of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), but not alkaline phosphatase (ALP), were significantly different between untreated diabetic rats and those treated with the extract (p = 0.05). We found that the isoflavones-rich extract stimulated β-cell regeneration in a dose-dependent effect and showed no observable toxic impact in either the kidney or pancreas. Thus, this extract may be a promising treatment option for diabetic condition.

Keywords

• Isoflavones
• Pueraria lobata
• Diabetes
• Pancreatic islet
• Glycosylated haemoglobin