Dioscorea alata L. Reduces Body Weight by Reducing Food Intake and Fasting Blood Glucose Level

Aims: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes may be most likely linked to obesity and its prevalence appears to have increased as the prevalence of obesity increased. Dioscorea alata L. has been observed to possess flavonoids which induce antidiabetic effect and phenolic compounds which could help in weight management. It has been postulated that any therapeutic regimes that can limit weight gain while simultaneously controlling blood glucose levels will be effective in managing diabetes. This study was conducted to determine the effect of this rich plant on food intake, blood glucose and body weight in a normal non- diabetic state.
Materials and Methods: The tuber was washed and the edible portion was dried at 50ºC, powdered, passed through 60 mesh sieve (BS), the powder was extracted with hot (70ºC) distilled water in a mechanical shaker for 24 h, filtered and freeze dried to yield aqueous extract. Twenty male wistar rats were used for this study; the rats were randomly assigned into five groups of five rats per group. Rats in group 1 served as control and were administered 0.3ml of 0.9% sodium chloride while Group 2, 3 and 4 received Dioscorea alata L. (DA) extract at 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 300mg/kg of body weight respectively for a period of 21 days. Food intake, Fasting blood glucose and body weight were measured.
Results: The results showed that food intake, fasting blood glucose level and body weight were significantly (P=.05) reduced when compared with the control group.
Conclusion: Therefore, we recommend that with further research into the extraction of the active constituent of Dioscorea alata L. that caused the reduced food intake, this plant could serve as a great therapeutic diet in the management of diabetes.