Abstract

Aims/hypothesis: The aqueous extracts of purple sweet potatoes contained highly anthocyanin and has a hypoglycemic effect and prevent oxidative stress. The pharmacological mechanisms of this anthocyanin is not clear. The antioxidant effect of anthocyanin is proposed could protect the oxidative stress of pancreatic #x3B2;-cell and recovery their function. Methods: The fifteen Wistar-rats were randomly assigned into three groups, each group consist of 5 rats. Tow groups were diabetic induced by injection of streptozotocin and one was control group. One of diabetic induced group was administrated orally aqueous extract of purple sweet potato tuber at the dose of 4 mL/day for 2 weeks along before induced streptozotocin and while the observation time. The body weigh, blood glucose level and number pancreatic #x3B2;-cell of rats were determinate. Results: The injection of streptozotocin afforded a damaging of pancreatic #x3B2;-cell of rats from 50 to 14.8 cells / 5 field views and introduced hyperglycemic rats. The blood glucose levels of this diabetic rat were ranged between (200 - 600) mg/dL in average 422 mg/dL. The aqueous the purple sweet potato extract prevented this pancreatic #x3B2;-cell damaging and decreased the blood glucose level into the normal level. Conclusions/interpretation: The acetylated anthocyanin on purple sweet potato tuber cloud protected the damaging of pancreatic #x3B2;-cells by induced streptozotocin, reduced the blood glucose into normal level.