Abstract:
Microgreens of Brassica plants have attracted increasing research interest in the management of the prevailing epidemic of Type
2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) because of their high nutritional value. This study evaluated the antidiabetic effects of Brassica car
inata Microgreens Ethanolic Extract (BMEE) in type-2 diabetic rats. For the normoglycemic assay, rats were divided into five
groups and received a single oral dose of 100, 250, and 500mg/kg of BMEE while the control groups received distilled water and
Glibenclamide. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were determined on a weekly basis for 28days in diabetic rats after treatment
with BMEE at 250 and 500mg/kg dosage levels. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), serum insulin levels, lipid profile and mes
senger RNA expression levels of Insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), Glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), and Nuclear factor kappa
light-chain enhancer of activated B cells (NFKβ) genes were determined. BMEE did not induce hypoglycemic effects in rats with
normal blood glucose levels, but induced antidiabetic activities in the experimental type-2 diabetic rats. BMEE lowered FBG
levels, increased oral glucose tolerance, increased insulin sensitization, and reduced insulin resistance. Treatment of diabetic rats
with BMEE increased lipid metabolism and relatively higher expression levels of IRS-1 and GLUT2 genes, and led to reduced
expression levels of NFKβ in the liver. Overall, this study reports that BMEE has potential as a nutraceutical to be utilized in the
management of T2DM
