Effects of Methanol Extract of Gongronema latifolium Leaves on Glycaemic Responses to Carbohydrate Diets in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats

M.C. Udeh Sylvester, O.F.C. Nwodo, O.E. Yakubu, E.J. Parker, S. Egba, E. Anaduaka, V.S. Tatah, O.P. Ugwu, E.M. Ale, C.M. Ude and T.J. Iornenge

Background and Objective: The search for natural plant extract as an alternative therapy to diabetes management has received enormous recognition globally. In this study, the effects of the methanol extracts of Gongronema latifolium leaves (GLE) on glycaemic responses to carbohydrate diets in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were investigated. Materials and Methods: Forty-five adult male Wistar albino rats divided into nine groups of 5 animals each were induced with diabetes by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (65 mg kg^–1 b.wt.) and administered with carbohydrate diets GLE mixed with the diets for 21 days while estimating fasting and postprandial blood glucose (PBG) levels. Results: Results of blood glucose estimation revealed a significant (p<0.05) elevation in both fasting blood glucose (FBG) and postprandial blood glucose (PBG) in animals fed with carbohydrate diets when compared to the positive control, but a significant (p<0.05) decrease was observed in both parameters upon the administration of GLE mixed with carbohydrate diets. Conclusion: Herein, we deduce that methanolic extracts of G. latifolium leaves elicited hypoglycaemic responses in diabetic rats and hence, could be considered as a potential candidate to be explored in the industrial design of a potent antidiabetic drug.

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