Potential effect of turnip (leaves and root)‎ on alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Abstract EN

The present study was designed to determine the effect of turnip leaves and roots on hyperglycemic rats.

Thirty-two adult albino male rats Sprague –Dawley strain weighing 150-160 g were randomly classified into eight groups.

Four rats served as a negative control group that fed on basal diet only, while the other twenty-eight rats were injected with a single intraperitoneal dose of Alloxan: (150 mg/kg body weight) to induce diabetes.

These rats were reclassified into positive control group, six treated rat groups that were 2.5&5% turnip leaves powder, 2.5&5% turnip roots powder and, 2.5&5% mixture of turnip leaves and roots powder.

The study period was 28 days.

The results of the obtained data indicated that the tested plants (P≤0.05) resulted in decreased blood glucose and VLDL in the blood and increased HDL compared with the positive control group The tested plants also improved liver and kidney function and prevented some pathological histological changes in the pancreas.

The hypothesis of the results obtained in which parts of the plant were tested contains several compounds capable of improving the adverse effects and discouraging mice suffering from excess blood sugar.

In conclusion, the administration of turnip leaves and roots powder could ameliorate the health status of diabetic rats, and it could be recommended to use these plants, in moderate amounts in our diets.