Garden eggs, scientifically known as Solanum melongena, come in different shapes, sizes and colours. They vary from small and oblong to long and thin, and from shades of purple to white and green. They have been regarded as a nutritional powerhouse, due to their nutritional advantages, especially their high fibre content.
In a recent study conducted by scientists from the University of Lagos, they found that garden egg leaves extract possess antidiabetic and hypolipidemic properties, as experimented in wistar rats. The findings, published in the Journal of Annual Research and Review in Biology, revealed that the health benefits of garden egg leaves transcend glucose lowering to protection of liver and kidney functions.
The lead author of the study, Henry Kenechukwu Okafor, explained the experimental procedure, noting that garden egg leaves were tested for their effects on diabetic male wistar rats. He said they investigated if an 80 per cent methanol extract of the leaves could reduce blood glucose levels, improve liver and kidney function, and positively impact lipid profiles.
The study’s findings are noteworthy, as they suggest that garden egg leaves could play a crucial role in managing diabetes and its associated complications.
According to Okafor, “The research involved inducing diabetes in male wistar rats using streptozotocin, a compound known for its ability to damage insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The rats were then divided into five groups. Two control groups received distilled water and glibenclamide, a common antidiabetic drug, respectively.
“The remaining three groups were given different doses of garden egg leaf extract. Blood glucose levels were closely monitored, and blood samples were analysed to assess liver and kidney function, as well as lipid profiles. Additionally, we examined the rats’ pancreatic tissues for any changes resulting from the treatment.”
The results were promising. The garden egg leaves extracts significantly reduced blood glucose levels, indicating its potential as a natural antidiabetic agent. This reduction in blood sugar was comparable to the effects observed in the group treated with glibenclamide, highlighting the efficacy of the garden egg leaf extract.
Moreover, he said the extract showed protective effects on liver and kidney function, both of which are often compromised in diabetic conditions. Improved liver and kidney profiles suggest that the garden egg leaves extract has a broad range of health benefits beyond its blood sugar-lowering effects. The extract also effectively reduced lipid levels in the blood, addressing hyperlipidaemia—a common and dangerous complication of diabetes that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The findings of this study highlight the potentials of garden egg leaves extract as a valuable natural remedy for managing diabetes and its related complications.
Given these promising results, including garden eggs and the leaves into your diet could offer multiple health benefits, as the plant is a versatile and nutritious option that could support your health in meaningful ways.
In conclusion, further research, including human clinical trials, is needed to fully understand the potentials of garden eggs in diabetes management although the current findings are promising.
