Saponins Extracted from Tetrapleura tetraptera Modulates Fasting Blood Sugar and Insulinotropic Genes in Streptozotocin Diabetic Wistar Rats
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4314/njbmb.v40i1.5Keywords:
Tetrapleura tetraptera, saponins, antidiabetic, insulinotropic genesAbstract
In Africa, medicinal plants such as Tetrapleura tetraptera are widely used for the management of diabetes due to their affordability and perceived safety. This study investigated the in vivo antidiabetic activities of total saponin fractions from the root bark of T. tetraptera in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male Wistar rats. Rats received oral doses of T. tetraptera saponins (TTS) (10, 20, 40 mg/kg), and metformin (100 mg/kg) for 12 weeks. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin levels, and insulin sensitivity (using HOMA-index) were investigated. Also, the expression of insulinotropic genes (GLUT-2, GLUT-4, GLP-1, GIP, DPP-4) were quantified using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A significant (p < 0.05) reduction in FBS was noted in diabetic rats treated with TTS at 10 mg/kg. Insulin concentrations significantly (p < 0.05) increased in all treated groups, notably in the group administered TTS at 40 mg/kg. In addition, insulin sensitivity significantly (p < 0.05) improved in the groups administered TTS at 10 and 40 mg/kg. A significant upregulation in the expression of insulin, GLUT-2, GLUT-4, GLP-1, and GIP genes were observed in the treated diabetic groups as well as the downregulation of DPP-4 gene. These results demonstrate that T. tetraptera saponins exert antidiabetic effects through multiple mechanisms, supporting their potential as a natural therapeutic agent, especially at lower doses of 10 mg/kg body weight.
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