Effect of Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Gongronema Latifolium on Blood Glucose and Cholesterol Levels in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of ethanolic leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium (Family: Asclepiadaceae) on blood glucose and cholesterol levels in alloxan-induced diabetic albino wistar rats. 30 male albino wistar rats were randomized into 4 groups (A-D). Groups A and B had 10 animals each while Groups C and D had 5 each. They were fed with standard feed and water ad libitum. Diabetes was induced in Groups A and B animals with 150mg of alloxan/kg body weight of animal. Group A rats were orally administered 400mg of the extract/kg body weight of animal twice daily. Group C rats also received 400mg of extract/kg body weight of animal for the same duration. Groups B and D animals served as diabetic and normal control respectively and were given distilled water in place of the extract. Treatment lasted for 10 consecutive days and blood samples for analysis were collected from the tail tips of the animals every two days. Results obtained showed that there were significant (p < 0.05) reductions in blood glucose and cholesterol levels in Group A rats post-treatment when compared with rats in Group B (diabetic control). No hypoglycaemic effect was observed in normal rats administered with the extract (p ˃ 0.05) when compared with the control animals. Therefore, the ethanolic leaf extract of G.latifolium has the potentials of lowering blood glucose and cholesterol levels in alloxan–induced diabetes and could be useful in the management of diabetes and its associated complications.

Keywords: Gongronema latifolium, diabetes, glucose, cholesterol.