• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.10
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• pp.865-871
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• 2004

This study was designed to examine the effects of diets containing different levels of seeds of Benincasa hispida(wax gourd) on glycogen, protein levels and lipid profiles as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were induced diabetes mellitus by STZ injection (45 mg/kg) into the tail vein and were divided into four groups: normal, STZ-control, and two experimental groups. Normal and STZ-control groups were fed the AIN-93 diet and the two experimental groups were fed a modified diet containing 2.5% and 5.0% of wax gourd seed powder for four weeks. The liver, muscle, lung, kidney, and pancreas were excised after sacrifice, then the glycogen, protein, and lipid peroxidation products were measured. The rats fed 2.5% wax gourd seed group showed higher levels of liver glycogen compared with that of the STZ-control group. The levels of kidney protein were significantly increased in the 2.5% and 5.0% wax gourd seed groups. There were no significant difference cholesterol and liver triglyceride levels of the liver and MDA concentration in the liver, lung, and kidney among all four groups. These results show that wax gourd seed treatment of 2.5% and 5.0% doses did not exhibit profound anti-lipid peroxidation properities.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.259-265
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• 2004

This study was designed to examine the effects of diets containing different levels of seeds of Benincasa hispida (wax-gourd)on plasma glucose, insulin levels and lipid profiles in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were induced diabetes mellitus by STZ injection (45 mg/kg) into the tail vein and were divide into 4 groups: normal, STZ-control, two experimental groups. Normal and STZ-control groups were fed an AIN-93 diet and 2 experi-mental groups were fed a modified diet containing 2.5% and 5.0% of wax gourd seed powder for 4 weeks. The weight gain and feed efficiency ratio in 5.0% seed groups were higher than in STZ-control group. A significant lowering effects of plasma glucose levels were observed in the wax gourd seed 2.5% and 5.0 groups. The plasma insulin level did not differ after treatment with wax gourd seed in experimental rats. The intake of 2.5% wax gourd seed did not result in sig-nificant change in plasma cholesterol levels compared to diabetic control group. The intake of 2.5% wax gourd seeds had normalized the increased levels of plasma triglyceride and free fatty acids after 4 weeks. In 5% wax gourd seed group, cholesterol, triglyceride and free fatty acid levels were elevated compared to 2.5% wax gourd seed group. The results of the present study indicate that 2.5% wax gourd seed group would be more effective to control the diabetes than 5% wax gourd seed group.