The effect of Sechium edule (Jacq) Sw. (Chayote) fruit extract on the blood glucose level of Mus musculus

• Main Author: De Jesus, Stephanie M.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2013
• Subjects: Agriculture
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/2758
• Institution: De La Salle University

Glucose, a monosaccharide, is an important nutrient needed to fuel different cellular functions important for life processes. Majority of the glucose found in the body is through a persons diet. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) of 70-100 mg/dl indicates that a person is normal, however an increase on the said range maybe indicative of diabetes. Diabetes, on the other hand, is a condition wherein the body is not able to produce insulin, a hormone needed for the regulation of the blood glucose. For this study, thirty (30) mice (Mus musculus), which were divided into 5 groups, were utilized. Based on one-tailed Students t-Test, it was found that the decrease in in FBG of the mice within the three experimental groups were significant. On the other hand, the result for the FBG of the mice belonging to the control groups signifies that the food intake, as well as the duration of the time the food was administered plays an important role in the increase and maintenance of ones blood glucose level. Moreover, by comparing the average measurement of FBG of the mice among groups, it was deduced that S.edule extract, in varying concentration, was effective in lowering the FBG on a per week basis. Possible reasons on how S. edule extract can lower blood glucose level may be link to its potential ability to lower blood viscosity, and its flavonoid component. However, no study yet has been made to know the mechanism involve in the blood glucose reducing effect of S. edule.