Antidiabetic Activity of Bengkuang (Pachyrhizus erosus) Extracts in Diabetes Mellitus-induced Rats

Bengkuang (Pachyrhizus erosus) is in the pea family (Fabaceae) and is a native Mexican vine that produces an edible tuber called jicama or Mexican turnip in English. This study evaluated the antidiabetic activity of bengkuang extracts administered via oral gavage into rats at 4 days post-induction of streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced diabetes mellitus. At 14 days post injection (daily) of extracts at 28 and 56 mg/200 g body weight (BW), blood glucose levels were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) from 277 ± 4 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) for the Diabetes Control Group to 182 ± 3 and 99 ± 55 mg/dl, respectively. The latter glucose level was comparable to that in the Antidiabetic Control Group rats (111 ± 63 mg/dl) injected with glibenclamide at 0.09 mg/200 g BW. The diabetes-induced rats also showed signs of cell recovery from diabetic-associated pancreatic tissue damage, supporting the efficacy of bengkuang treatment. According to phytochemical tests, the bengkuang extract contained various metabolites, mainly alkaloids and flavonoids, that may have been responsible for its antidiabetic activity. The results justify further studies on the underlying mechanisms of bengkuang antidiabetic activity.