RESUMO
PURPOSE: Dioscorea dumetorum (Pax) used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus possesses hypoglycaemic effect. The present study investigates the effect of oral administration of the aqueous extract of the tuber on blood lipid and ketone levels in alloxan - induced diabetic rats. METHOD: Wistar strain albino rats were made diabetic with the intraperitoneal administration of alloxan monohydrate. Consequently; an aqueous extract of Dioscorea dumetorum tuber was administered orally to the diabetic rats and their plasma and urine glucose; triacylglycerol; choles terol and a-hydroxybutyrate concentrations were estimated using standard procedures. Results were compared with untreated normal and diabetic control rats. Phytochemical screening of the extract of the tuber was also carried out. RESULTS: Treatment with the extract significantly (p less than 0.05) reduced elevated blood levels of triacylglycerol; cholesterol and Beta- hydroxybutyrate associated with alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus. The aqueous extract tested positive for flavonoids; alkaloids; saponins and cardiac glycosides. CONCLUSION: From this study; the tuber has proved not only to be an effective hypoglycaemic agent; but also possesses significant (p less than 0.05) hypolipidaemic and hypocholesterolaemic properties while also ameliorating ketosis