Effect of Banana (Musa Sp. Cultivar Elakki Bale) Flower and Stem on Enzyme Activities of Intestinal and Renal Disaccharidases in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

The effect of banana (Musa sp. cultivar elakki bale) flower and stem on
activities of intestinal and renal disaccharidases was studied in streptozotocininduced
diabetic rats by determining the specific activities of intestinal and
renal disaccharidases, viz., sucrase, maltase and lactase, which was then
correlated to the amount of glucose released from sucrose, maltose and
lactose, respectively. The study involved a comparison between starch-fed
diabetic (SFD), banana flower-fed diabetic (FFD), banana stem-fed diabetic
(TFD) and aminoguanidine-fed diabetic (AFD) groups. Significant decrease in
urine sugar, urine volume and fasting blood sugar were seen in the FFD, TFD
and AFD groups when compared with the SFD group. In case of intestinal
maltase activities, the FFD, TFD and AFD groups showed 59%, 54% and 77%
amelioration, respectively, in comparison with the SFD group. Similarly, intestinal
lactase activities were high in the SFD group and were augmented in the
FFD, TFD and AFD groups to about 54%, 57% and 86%, respectively, in
comparison with the SFD group.