Protective effect of ipomoea batatas l leaves extract on histology of pancreatic langerhans islet and beta cell insulin expression of rats induced by streptozotocin

Abstract

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L) leaf is one of the well-known vegetables among Indonesian. It is also often used as traditional medicine for diabetes mellitus. This research aimed to investigate the protective effect of I. batatas L leaves extract on the pancreas of type 1 diabetes animal model. Twenty-five male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 treatment groups and 2 control groups. Streptozotocin (STZ) was injected low doses (40 mg/kg BW) intraperitoneally for 5 consecutive days, I. batatas L leaves extract (doses 0.25, 0.8, and 2.5 g/ kg BW) were administered for 14 days after the first STZ injection. Fasting blood glucose was analyzed after complete STZ induction (day 6) and after 14 days of treatment. At the end of the study, rats were killed, and pancreas tissues were removed for histological examination and immunohistochemical procedures using anti-insulin antibody. Diabetic rats treated with 2.5 g/kg BW I. batatas L leaves extract showed the lowest fasting blood glucose among treatment groups and had approximately 50% normal Langerhans islets with functional beta cells. These results suggest that I. batatas L leave extract has anti-diabetic activity through its protective effect on the pancreas.