The Effect of Gongronema latifolium Leaf Extract on Blood Biochemical Assay in Diabetic Rats
Effiong Grace Sylvester *
Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, P.M.B.1017, Uyo, Nigeria.
Eshiet Unyime Israel
Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, P.M.B.1017, Uyo, Nigeria.
Ajibola Dorcas Olajumoke
Department of Pharmacognosy and Natural Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, P.M.B.1017, Uyo, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Gongronema latifolium (GL) is used extensively in the indigenous system of medicine as an anti-diabetic agent. Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of Gongronema latifolium extract in Type 2 diabetic rat models were evaluated using standard analytical methods while Blood was collected on every 3 days through the rat’s tail vein for glucose estimation using One Touch Glucometer. Blood glucose in the diabetic animals decreased significantly (P=.05) from initial by 66.34% upon treatment with Gongronema latifolium. Diabetes induction caused significant increases (P=.05) in total cholesterol (TC) with 54.42% and low density lipoprotein (LDL) with 55.0% compared to the normal control (NC), while treatment with extracts of Gongronema latifolium significantly decreased (P=.05) these by (58.70% TC) and (71.70% LDL) respectively. Also the amino transferases (ALT and AST) parameters activities which increased by 66.83% and 72.87% in the diabetic control (DC) rats became reduced upon treatment with Gongronema latifolium. Thus the plant extract was capable of ameliorating hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and could be a potential source for isolation of new orally active agent(s) for anti-diabetic therapy.
Keywords: Aminotransferases, blood glucose, diabetes mellitus, Gongronema latifolium, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia.