Elephant foot yam ameliorates activities of intestinal and renal disaccharidases in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

Elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson syn. Amorphophallus campanulatus) is a tuber vegetable used as an ingredient in ayurvedic preparations for various ailments. The present investigation deals with the effect of elephant foot yam extract on intestinal and renal disaccharidases in normal rats and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. The specific activities of maltase, sucrase and lactase were measured in control and starch fed diabetic (SFD), elephant foot yam extract at 0.1% fed diabetic (YFD0.1), elephant foot yam extract at 0.25% fed diabetic (YFD0.25) and aminoguanidine fed diabetic (AFD) groups at the end of experimental period. Intestinal maltase, sucrase and lactase activities were high in SFD group compared to control, YFD0.1, YFD0.25 and AFD groups. Amelioration of intestinal maltase activities by 18% 26% and 48% was observed in YFD0.1, YFD0.25 and AFD groups respectively when compared to SFD group. Intestinal sucrase activity was ameliorated in YFD0.1, YFD0.25 and AFD groups to about 28%, 45% and 56% respectively. Lactase activity of intestine was improved by 36%, 52% and 64% in YFD0.1, YFD0.25 and AFD groups respectively. On the contrary, specific activities of renal maltase, sucrase and lactase were decreased in SFD group compared to control groups. Supplementation of elephant foot yam extract in diet significantly ameliorated renal disachharidases activities in YFD0.1 and YFD0.25 groups. The results demonstrate the potential use of elephant foot yam for the management of diabetes.