Anniline C Teng
Manila Central University, Philippines
Title: Comparative effectiveness of Abelmoschus esculentus L. (Okra) and acarbose in lowering blood glucose: An experimental study using streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats
Biography
Biography: Anniline C Teng
Abstract
Diabetes is presently a serious worldwide epidemic, affecting about 382 million people globally in 2013 and directly causing the deaths of more than 1.5 million people in 2012. This study evaluates the glucose-lowering potential of Abelmoschus esculentus L. (Okra) in diabetic rat models as compared to the commercial drug acarbose. In this randomized, double-blind experimental study, 48 streptozotocin-induced diabetic male Sprague Dawley rats aged 75-90 days old and weighing 150-250 grams were divided into three groups: (1) Experimental group which was given 300 mg/kg aqueous extract of Abelmoschus esculentus L. (okra), (2) Positive control group which was given 15 mg/kg acarbose and (3) Negative control group which was given 5 mL/kg distilled water. All groups were concurrently treated once daily orally for 7 days. Blood glucose levels were measured one hour after treatment administration using EasyTouch® glucometer. The safety of okra extract and acarbose were also determined based on subject mortality. After 7 days, the experimental group and the positive control group demonstrated glucose-lowering effects. However, the decrease in blood glucose from the baseline up to day 7 was statistically significant only in the experimental group (p-value<0.05). Comparison of the glucose values among all the groups on day 7 demonstrated a significant difference in the experimental group (p value=0.02). This showed that okra extract exhibited a time-dependent effect. Also, statistical analysis of mortality which yielded a non-significant result established the safety of acarbose and okra extract as used in the study.
These findings prove the potential beneficial effect of Abelmoschus esculentus L. (okra) in the treatment of diabetes through its glucose-lowering effect which has been exhibited to be comparable to that of the commercially prepared drug acarbose. Thus, it may be developed and used to treat type-2 diabetes in humans.