1. EFFECT OF CRUDE EXTRACT OF BETA VULGARIS (BEETROOT) PEEL ON BLOOD
SUGAR LEVEL AND BODY MASS INDEX OF
ALBINO RATS
BY
A RESEARCH PROPOSAL SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY/
BIOCHEMISTRY, SCHOOL OF INDUSTRIAL AND APPLIED SCIENCE, FEDERAL
POLYTECHNIC NEKEDE OWERRI,
IMO STATE
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF
HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA (HND) IN MICROBIOLOGY/ BIOCHEMISTRY
AUGUST, 2022.
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NOMEH DIAMOND CHIGOZIE
SUPERVISOR: MRS. H.A IHEJIETO
2. INTRODUCTION
The use of plant for healing purpose has always been part of human culture and it is getting increasingly
popular in Nigeria.
Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) belongs to the Chenopodiaceae family. It has bright crimson colour. Beetroot is
commonly known as beet, chard, spinach beet, sea beet, garden beet, white beet and Chukander (in Hindi).
It has very medicinal properties which give some positive effect on the human body. Beetroot can be eaten
raw, boiled, steamed and roasted. Red beetroot is a rich source of minerals (magnesium, manganese,
sodium, potassium, iron, copper) (Mathangi, 2019). The beetroot has different medicinal properties and help
to protect against heart disease and certain cancers (colon cancer) (Kavalcova et al., 2015). Beetroot are rich
in other valuable compound such as glycine, betaine (De Zwart et al., 2013), Saponins (Atamanova et al.,
2015), betacyanin (Patkai et al., 2017), carotenoids (Dias et al., 2019), folates, betanins, polyphenols and
flavonoids (Vali et al., 2007).
Beetroot contributes to consumer’s health and wellbeing because it has antioxidant property due to the
presence of nitrogen pigment betalain. Beetroot are also known for its antimicrobial and antiviral effects
(Strack et al., 2013) and it can also inhibit the cell proliferation of human tumor cells (Reddy et al., 2015). It
is one of the natural food which boosts the energy as it has one of the highest nitrates and sugar contents
plant (Yadav et al., 2016).
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3. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
There has been an increase in the level of awareness on the health benefits of natural products like medicinal
plants. This has resulted to a corresponding increase in the demand and consumption of the plant products.
Beta vulgaris is a herb that has found a wide array of use in disease management, that consumption of its
peel is even encouraged.
However, it is imperative to carry out a research of this native effect on blood sugar level, body mass index
and organ weight of albino rats.
AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY
This study is aimed at investigating the effect of crude extract of Beta vulgaris on the blood sugar level,
body mass index and organ weight of albino rats.
The objectives of this work include:
1. To determine the effect of crude extract of Beta vulgaris peel on the blood sugar level of albino rats.
2. To determine the effect of crude extract of Beta vulgaris peel on body mass index of albino rats and
weight of organs such as liver, kidney, heart, pancreas, testes.
3. To compare values from the treated rats with those of the untreated rats in order to determine
significance differences.
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4. SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The following areas will be covered in this work:
1. Preparation of crude extract of Beta Vulgaris peel.
2. Administration of the different concentration to different groups of the rats.
3. Determination of the blood sugar level and body mass index of the animals (albino rats).
4. Determination of weights of ovaries, testes, heart, kidneys, liver and pancreas of the
albino rats.
SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
This study is geared towards increasing the level of knowledge available on the safety or toxicity of Beta
Vulgaris peel on blood sugar level and body mass index of albino rats.
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5. MATERIALS AND METHODS
MATERIALS
The proposed materials to be used will be Beetroot and twenty-five male wistar albino rats.
APPARATUS/EQUIPMENT:
The apparatus to be used will be gotten from science laboratory; and they include:
Soxhlet extractor, mass balance, Agilent, Grinder, Oven, and programmable refractometer
CHEMICALS/REAGENTS
EXPERIMENTALANIMALS
Twenty-five male Wistar albino rats aged 6 months and weighing 180 ± 20 g will be obtained from Mr.
Ekenweuba (A.K.AAgile) farm at Obibi Ezena village also in Imo State.
TEST SAMPLE
Beetroot
OTHER MATERIALS
Feeders, specimen, thick gloves, bottles, metal cages and examination gloves.
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6. METHODS
TEST SAMPLE COLLECTION
The sample of Beetroot that will be used for this study will be bought from local market in Owerri-West
L.G.A.
ANIMAL CARE AND HANDLING
The Albino rats to be used for this study and weighing 80 - 90kg will be obtained from a local breeder at
Nano farms, Umuerim, Nekede in Imo State. The rats will be housed in clean metal cages having five rats
per cage and maintained in a temperature-controlled room (27 ± 2°C) with a photoperiod of a 12-h light and
12-h dark cycle. The rats will be given standard pellet diet (vital feeds) and water ad libitum throughout the
experimental period.
The experiments will be carried out in accordance with CPCSEA guidelines and the protocol was approved
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
Group Number of rats Dosage (ml/kg body weight)
1 5 Distilled water
2 5 200
3 5 400
4 5 600
5 5 800
The administration of the test sample will last for 28 days
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7. BODY WEIGHT MEASUREMENT
The weight of the animals will be taken before start of experiment, and every week and before sacrifice. The
body mass index will be calculated as follows:
ORGAN WEIGHT MEASUREMENT
At the end of the sample and administration, the animals will be fasted overnight and sacrificed under
anaesthesic. Major organs such as the heart, liver, kidney, pancreas, ovaries and testes will be carefully
excised, rinsed in normal saline and blotted to remove excess fluid and the weighed.
BLOOD GLUCOSE DETERMINATION
The blood glucose level of the animals will be determined at the beginning of the experiment before sample
administration, twice a week and just before sacrifice. This will be determined using the glucometer.
STATISTICALANALYSIS
Data obtained from this study will be presented in tabular and analyzed using the SPSS 22.0 analysis of
variance (ANOVA) at 5% level of significance.
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8. REFERENCES
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and food chemistry. 58(22): 11825-11831.
Beetroot. (2013). Booklet 2444 prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food. Alnwick, U.K.
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Hilland EV and Langer, UG. (2011). Prophylactic effect of a Beta vulgaris extract on experimental influenza
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Hopf Maria; Zohary Daniel. (2010). Domestication of plants in the old world: the origin and spread of
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