Comparative Effects of Quail Eggs, Quail Eggs/Vit C and Glibenclamide on Streptozocin-induced Diabetes mellitus

In recent years, quail eggs have become a subject of interest because of its properties and medical benefits. In this study, the separate and combined effects of quail eggs and vitamin C on the blood glucose level and body weight of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were investigated. The 30 wistar rats were randomly assigned into five groups; Group I (control), Group II (diabetic rats without treatment), Group III (diabetic rats treated with raw quail eggs only), Group IV (diabetic rats treated with raw quail eggs and vitamin C) and Group V (diabetic rats treated with Glibenclamide 600 µg/kg body weight). Diabetes mellitus was induced in fasted rats with a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg body weight). The induced rats were then treated with the Quail eggs, Quail eggs/vit C, and Glibenclamide. At the end of the 10 days of treatment, the group treated with quail eggs and vitamin C at 0.15 ml/kg and 200 mg/kg body weight per day, respectively showed a significant (p< 0.05) hypoglycaemic effect, as the mean blood glucose level in the group decreased with an increase in the mean body weight. The group treated with Glibenclamide showed similar and stronger effect of hypoglycaemia. The group treated with quail eggs alone did not show any significant hypoglycaemic effect. Consequently, the groups treated quail eggs/vit C and Glibenclamide lost significant body weight. Quail eggs alone, quail eggs combined with vit C and Glibenclamide have hypoglycaemic effect after 10 days of administration, and could therefore be used to manage diabetes mellitus. Glibenclamide is however more potent for this purpose than quail egg/vit C, which is also more potent than quail egg alone.