(P07-004-24) Effect of Gongronema latifilium and Luffa aegyptiaca Decoction on Blood Glucose, Lipid Profile and Liver Enzymes of Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats

Objectives: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder of energy metabolism, which is becoming increasingly common, resulting from deficient action and secretion of insulin on target skeletal muscle, tissue and/or liver. The study determined the effect of Gongronema latifilium and Luffa aegyptiaca decoction on the blood glucose, lipids and liver enzymes of alloxan induced diabetic rats.

Methods: Experimental study design was used to randomly assign 30 rats to 6 groups of 5 rats each. The leafy vegetable decoctions were prepared using standard method. Alloxan was used to induce diabetes in the rats, while 21 days treatment was carried out using intra-gastric tube (attached to a syringe) to administer the decoctions. Blood glucose, lipid profile and liver enzymes examination were carried out using standard methods. Paired-sample t-test (p < 0.05) was used to determine the effect of the decoctions on the rats.

Results: A significant (68.88%) decrease was observed in the blood glucose level of diabetic rats treated with 3mLkg^-1 body weight (BW) of G. latifilium decoction, while 69.64% decrease was observed in the blood glucose level of diabetic rats treated with 3mLkg^-1 of L. aegytiaca decoction. A significant (59.80%) increase (p < 0.05) was seen in the HDL-C level of diabetic rats treated with 3mL of G. latifilium decoction, while a significant (79.75%) increase was seen in the HDL-C of diabetic rats treated with 3mL of L. aegytiaca decoction. Treatment with G. latifilium decoction at 3mLkg^-1 body weight showed a significant (31.34%) decrease in the aspartate amino transferase (AST) level of the rats, while 28.53% decrease was observed in AST level of the rats treated with 3mLkg^-1 BW of L. aegytiaca decoction.

Conclusions: The various leafy vegetable decoctions showed capacity to reduce high blood glucose, hyperlipidemia and liver enzyme levels in diabetic rats. There is need for human study to further establish the potentials of the leafy vegetable decoction.

Funding Sources: The study was self funded by the authors.