Saponins extracted from Asparagus officinalis L. by products exerts hypoglycemic effect in streptozotocin induced type 2 diabetic rats

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the hypoglycemic property of saponins from Asparagus officinalis L. by-products (SA) in high-fat diet and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 2-like diabetic rats. Diabetic rats were administrated with SA at doses of 20, 40 and 60 mg/kg body weight once a day for 45 consecutive days. The diabetic rats showed significant decreased fasting serum glucose and free fatty acid, and significant increased hepatic glycogen and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol after SA treatment. Furthermore, SA administration at dose of 60 mg/kg markedly decreased both the blood glucose level measured after glucose loading and the area under the curve in the oral glucose tolerance test. Overall, the current study suggest that SA could control hyperglycemia and improve glucose tolerance, and may serve as a potential food supplement or natural drug in the management of diabetes.