HYPOGLYCEMIC AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF BALINESE PURPLE SWEET POTATO (IPOMOEA BATATAS L) IN INDUCED-DIABETIC RATS

Anthocyanins from plants are potent antioxidants, which may have beneficial effects against oxidative stress-related diseases, such as diabetes mellitus. Balinese purple sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is an anthocyanin-rich food source. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of water extract of Balinese purple sweet potato on blood glucose level and oxidative stress in diabetic rats. Subject of this study were 20 male adult rats divided into 2 groups with randomized pre-test and post-test control group design. Blood glucose, malondialdehyde (MDA), and total antioxidant levels of all rats were measured before and after treatment. After obtaining pre-test data, all of the groups were treated with streptozotocin (STZ) at 40 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally to induce diabetic condition. Three days later, the treatment group of rats was treated with 3 ml/day of water extract of purple sweet potato for 60 days. The control group of rats was given 3 ml of water per day. Blood glucose, MDA, and total antioxidant levels were measured to obtain post-test data at day 30 and 60. The results showed that in control group, there was a significant (p<0.05) increase of blood glucose and MDA level, and significant decrease in the total antioxidant level when compared to treatment group. These results suggested that the water extract of purple sweet potato might be used to reduce the blood glucose, increase the antioxidant level and reduce the oxidative stress in rats with STZ-induced diabetes mellitus.