Changes in some liver enzymes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats fed sapogenin extract from bitter yam (Dioscorea polygonoides) or commercial diosgenin / Cambios en Algunas Enzimas Hepáticas en ratas con Diabétes Inducida Mediante Estreptozotocina, Alimentadas con Extracto de Sapogenina de ñame Amargo (Dioscorea polygonoides) o Diosgenina Comercial

The effects of steroidal sapogenin extract from bitter yam or commercial diosgenin on liver enzyme changes were investigated Diabetic male Wistar rats were fed diets supplemented with 1 steroidal sapogenin extract or commercial diosgenin for three weeks. Plasma glucose levels and the activities of hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase, pyruvate kinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were assessed Liver total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and total phospholipid were also measured. Plasma glucose decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in diabetic rats fed the three test diets compared to the diabetic control. The three test diets significantly decreased glucose-6-phosphatase activity compared to the diabetic control The activities of ATP-citrate lyase, pyruvate kinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were significantly reduced in the liver of diabetic rats compared to normal control. Supplementation of the diet with bitter yam steroidal sapogenin extract or commercial diosgenin did not significantly alter ATP citrate lyase and pyruvate kinase activities but significantly increased glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in the liver compared to diabetic rats. This study shows that the feeding of the two test diets to diabetic rats results in alterations in the metabolism of glucose with subsequent reduction in plasma glucose concentration

Se investigaron los efectos del extracto de sapogenina esteroidal del ñame amargo o la diosgenina comercial, sobre los cambios enzimáticos del hígado. A ratas Wistar machos con diabetes les fueron suministradas dietas con suplementos de 1% de extracto de sapogenina esteroidal o diosgenina comercial por espacio de tres semanas. Se evaluaron los niveles de glucosa plasmática y las actividades de la glucosa-6-fosfatasa hepática, el piruvato kinasa y la glucosa-6-fosfato deshidrogenasa. Asimismo fueron medidos el colesterol total del hígado, el colesterol HDL y el fosfolípido total. La glucosa plasmática disminuyó significativamente (p < 0.05) en las ratas diabéticas a las que se les alimentó con las tres dietas de la prueba, en comparación con el control diabético. Las tres dietas de la prueba disminuyeron significativamente la actividad de la glucosa-6-fosfatasa en comparación con el control diabético. Las actividades de la ATP-citrato liasa, la piruvato kinasa y la glucosa-6-fosfato deshidrogenasa disminuyeron significativamente en el hígado de las ratas diabéticas, en comparación con el control normal. El suplemento dietético con extracto de sapogenina esteroidal de ñame amargo o la diosgenina comercial no alteró de manera significativa las actividades de la ATP-citrato liasa y la piruvato kinasa, pero aumentó significativamente la actividad de la glucosa-8-fosfato deshidrogenasa en el hígado, en comparación con las ratas diabéticas. Este estudio demuestra que la alimentación con las dos dietas de prueba suministrada a las ratas diabéticas, produce alteraciones en el metabolismo de la glucosa, con la consiguiente reducción de la concentración de glucosa plasmática

Diosgenin effect on rats and mice ovaries

Diosgenin is the main and the most important extract of crude fenugreek seeds which was thought to be a precursor of steroidal materials. To advice Diosgenin application in future as a cheep ovulatary stimulator material, or as a low cost contraceptive pill. Sixty uncoupled female rats and mice were enrolled in this study, categorized into groups as mentioned in the text. Prolactin, estradiol and progesterone serum levels where, measured for all groups. Histological and statistical analytical methods were applied to identify the increase in the folliculogenis process within the ovaries of the studied animals. An elevation in prolactin, estradiol and progesterone serum levels was established in this study in all the experimental groups when compared to the control. These findings were confirmed histologically as shown in the figures present in the text. In conclusion we can use the extracted diosgcnin from the crude fenugreek seed's in medicine as an ovulatary stimulator material or as a low cost contraceptive pill depending on the dose given and the duration of treatment