The effect of myrmecodia platytyrea tuber extract on streptozotocin­-induced diabetic rats

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a serious disease and is affecting a large number of populations across the world. There are many medicinal plants claimed to have antidiabetic effect and also a large number of supplements in the market which are said to be effective in lowering blood sugar. Due to the fact that this disease can only be controlled, it is important to do a research on how this disease can be prevented. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the potential of the aqueous tuber extract of Myrmecodia platytyrea (family Rubiaceae) or locally known as 'sarang semut' as prophylaxis to diabetes mellitus. This study was conducted on 5 groups of male adult Sprague Dawley rats (n=6). M. platytyrea methanolic tuber extract (I 00 mg/kg to 400 mg/kg, p.o) was given to the treatment groups for 14 days followed by injection of streptozotocin (45 mg/kg, i.p.). The non-diabetic rats and the untreated group received normal saline (p.o.) and on day 15 the non-diabetic rats were injected with citrate buffer (i,p,) and the untreated rats were given STZ (45 mg/kg, i.p.). Treatment with the extract and normal saline were continued for another 5 days. Fasting blood glucose, body weight, food and water intake were recorded every 7 days until the end of the experiment. On the 19th day, blood was collected through cardiac puncture to measure blood glucose level and lipid profile. Results showed that glucose level was increased significantly whereas body weight and food intake were decreased significantly in all STZ-induced rats. Water intake also increased significantly in all STZ-induced rats. STZ-induced rats receiving 400 mg/kg (p.o.) of extract exhibited higher HDL and lower LDL, triglycerides and cholesterol levels compared to STZ-induced rats receiving 100 and 200 mg/kg of extract and untreated STZ-induced rats. In conclusion, administration of the M. platytyrea methanolic tuber extract had no protective effect against induction of diabetes by STZ but at 400 mg/kg, the extract improved lipid profile of the STZ­ induced rats.