Background: Lupinus albus (LA) seed is a legume food used traditionally for the treatment of diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an aqueous extract of LA on lipid and glucose levels in normal and STZ induced Type 1 diabetic rats. Methods: Aqueous extract of LA was prepared and used for animal treatments. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60mg/kg body weight). Effects of LA on oral glucose tolerance in normal and diabetic rats were investigated by giving a single dose of distilled water (controls), 200 or 400mg/kg LA extract, metformin 300mg/kg or glibenclamide 500µg/kg after 12 hours of fasting (time 0 glucose). After 15 minutes, a glucose load (3g/kg) was given. Glucose levels were measured at 30, 60, and 120 minutes after glucose loading. To investigate long term effects, animals were given similar treatments daily for 4 weeks. At the end of the study, serum glucose, insulin, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL-C) and high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) cholesterol levels were measured or calculated. Results: LA demonstrated significant (P<0.001) hypoglycaemic effects in normal rats but not in diabetic rats after acute and long term treatment. Normal LA treated rats showed higher (P<0.001) insulin levels compared to normal controls but insulin remained very low in diabetic rats. Diabetic rats showed diabetes associated weight loss in both treated and untreated rats. However, LA was effective in reducing atherogenic lipid levels (TC, TG, LDL-C VLDLC; P<0.001) with no change (P>0.05) in HDL-C. Conclusion:We conclude that the use of Lupinus albus among various communities may not be effective in treating hyperglycaemia in type 1 diabetes but effective for treating diabetes induced dyslipidemia.Key words: glucose tolerance, lipids, Lupinus albus, streptozotocin, type 1 diabetes. IntroductionPlants have historically served as a source of food and drugs. The term "nutraceutical" was coined by Stephen De Feliceto blending the two plant functions (Scarafoni et al., 2007). Nutritionally, there is a worldwide shift towards using plant sources as protein in place of animal sources. This is deemed a healthier dietary choice towards the reduction of diet related diseases such as obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes (Arnoldi and Greco, 2011). As such, storage proteins from legumes have been the choice substitute for animal proteins. Soya bean is the most used legume that also possesses cholesterol reducing effects (Anderson et al., 1995;Sirtori et al., 1998;Sirtori et al., 2007).Lately, there has been a growing interest in other legumes as protein sources for human nutrition. One such legume is white lupin, Lupinus albus. This is an annual plant belonging to the class Leguminosae. It is grown in the Middle East and Africa as a food legume. In South Africa it is mostly grown in the Western Cape for animal feed (Brand and Brandt, 2000). In addi...

Background: Any substance that increases erectile function, sexual performance and enjoyment is considered an aphrodisiac. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of food plants Mondia whitei, Chenopodium album, Cucurbita pepo and Sclerocarya birrea extracts at a fixed dose of 200mg/kg body weight on sexual behavior, sperm parameters and testosterone levels in adult male rats. These are food plants also traditionally used as aphrodisiacs in South Africa, Zimbabwe and other parts of Africa. Materials and methods: Sexual behavior parameters assessed in this study included an arousal component (mount latency and intromission latency); sexual potency (mount frequency and intromission frequency), erection (copulatory efficiency) and ejaculations. All treatments were administered orally daily for 28 days. Sexual behavior parameters were quantified 2 hours after a single dose, at 14 days and at 28 days of treatment. Results: The order of efficacy in stimulating sexual behavior in male rats was M. whitei >S. birrea > C. pepo ≥ C. album. Although there was no change in number of ejaculations and sperm count (P>0.05) for all treatment groups compared to controls, all treatments increased (P<0.05) sperm motility. M. whitei and C. pepo treatments resulted in increased (P<0.05) serum testosterone levels. Conclusion: Therefore, this study demonstrates varying aphrodisiac activities of food plants used traditionally as aphrodisiacs.

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Objective: To examine the relationship between serum magnesium and high sensitive C-reactive proteins (hsCRP) and overweight/obesity and its association with hypertension in lean versus overweight/obese, female, adolescent school learners living in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Methods:A case-control study was conducted involving age-matched, non-pregnant and non-lactating lean and overweight/obese females, aged 13-17 years. Relevant data on demography, anthropometry (height, weight, waist and hip circumferences), blood pressure and venous blood samples were collected.Results: A significant inverse correlation was observed between serum magnesium and waist circumference (r = -0.3153, 95% CI = -3.843 to -0.8681, p = 0.0022). Serum hsCRP levels were significantly higher in overweight/obese participants. Participants with waist circumference (WC) > 80 cm had significantly higher mean systolic blood pressure and mean diastole blood pressure (MDBP). Hip circumference (HC) >94 cm was associated with higher mean systole blood pressure (MSBP) and MDBP (120 ± 2 vs 113 ± 2, p = 0.009 and 73±2 vs 68±1, p=0.003). Both WC and HC correlated positively with both MSBP (r=0.2691, 95% CI = 0.042 -0.457, p = 0.018; r = 0.2758, 95% CI = 0.03184 -0.3001, p = 0.0159) and MDBP (r=0.2686, 95%CI = 0.0286 -0.320, p = 019; r = 0.2836, 95% CI = 0.05382 -0.4455, p = 0.013), respectively. Conclusion:Findings of low grade inflammation and early-onset hypertension in overweight/obese adolescent females in our study were consistent with evidences supporting the beneficial effect of maintaining lean body habitus. There is urgent need to prevent overweight/obesity among adolescents.