Nigerian cuisine is rich in diverse soups, many of which are made with various leafy vegetables. Some common Nigerian soups include egusi soup, bitter leaf soup, and others that utilise indigenous leafy greens. These soups are flavourful and packed with nutritional benefits, including antioxidants, minerals, and dietary fibre.
Potato leaves, while not commonly mentioned due to several reasons, such as regional preferences, culinary traditions, or the lack of research on this specific ingredient in Nigerian cuisine, are known to be edible and nutritious, contributing to health.
Potato leaves are desired for their anti-diabetes properties; in fact, their top leaves contain additional nutritional components in much higher concentrations than many other commercial vegetables. Several studies have already proven that this plant has antidiabetic compounds that lower blood glucose content.
In a new study, researchers suggested that the combination of purple sweet potato leaf extract with metformin is more effective in reducing blood glucose and total cholesterol levels compared to the single administration of metformin and sweet potato leaf extract.
The study, which investigated the effects of Purple Sweet Potato Leaf Extract (SPLE) combined with Metformin on blood glucose and cholesterol levels in diabetic rats, was in the International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology.
Diabetic rats exhibited high blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was very low.
The research at the University of North Sumatra involved an experimental setup with diabetic rats, divided into eight treatment groups receiving different doses of SPLE and metformin over 28 days.
Metformin is used to treat high blood sugar levels that are caused by type 2 diabetes. Purple sweet potato leaves have been widely studied to reduce glucose and cholesterol levels.
Despite the availability of conventional antidiabetic drugs, managing diabetes remains challenging due to drug side effects, high costs, and limited accessibility in low-income regions. Many synthetic medications focus on symptom control rather than addressing the underlying metabolic dysfunctions of the disease.
Consequently, there is a growing interest in identifying natural alternatives, particularly functional foods rich in bioactive compounds, which may offer sustainable strategies for diabetes prevention and management.
In the study, the purple sweet potato leaf extract, when administered in doses of 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg body weight (BW), both alone and in combination with metformin, results in a statistically significant decrease in blood glucose levels compared to controls.
The combination of 800 mg/kg BW extract with metformin resulted in normalized blood glucose levels, whereas metformin alone or lower doses of the extract did not achieve the same effect.
Also, the highest dose of 800 mg/kg BW, when combined with metformin, normalized blood glucose levels to 93.50 ± 4.93 mg/dL, which is within the normal range for rats.
Similarly, the combination therapy was more effective in reducing total cholesterol levels than either treatment alone.
The combination of 800 mg/kg BW extract with metformin achieved near-normal cholesterol levels, whereas metformin alone or lower doses of the extract resulted in only a partial reduction in cholesterol levels.
Previously, researchers at the University of Jos also said the continuous intake of sweet potato leaves over 28 days significantly reverses the effects on cholesterol, total body fat, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL).
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In the American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences, they reported that sweet potato extract at a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight for 28 days resulted in a significant reduction in blood glucose levels.
This effect was comparable to metformin, which is a standard antidiabetic drug that can effectively reduce fasting blood glucose and total cholesterol levels.
The extract significantly reduced the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol while increasing HDL cholesterol levels. These effects were similar to those observed with metformin treatment.
Diabetes can lead to liver dysfunction, as evidenced by elevated levels of liver enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The sweet potato leaf extract also reduced the levels of these liver enzymes, indicating its liver-protective effects.
Additionally, the extract reduced the levels of total and direct bilirubin, which were elevated in diabetic rats.
According to them, the extract significantly increased the levels of total protein and albumin, which are often reduced in diabetic conditions, suggesting that the extract may help in maintaining liver function and overall protein metabolism in diabetes.
The safety and efficacy of sweet potato leaf extract have been evaluated and shown to be safe at the tested doses, with no significant adverse effects observed. Therefore, it is safe as a natural remedy for diabetes.
Experts had suggested that the purple sweet potato leaf extract reduced blood glucose by enhancing insulin secretion and improving glucose utilization in the body tissues.
This it does by inhibiting the enzymes involved in carbohydrate digestion and absorption as well as ensuring a reduction in the oxidative stress, which is often implicated in the process by which diabetes develops.
However, more research is required to determine the extract’s long-term safety and effectiveness as well as to validate sweet potato leaf extract as a helpful adjunct or alternative therapy for the treatment of diabetes in human patients.
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