EFFECT OF GONGRONEMA LATIFOLIUM

ABSTRACT

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a metabolic condition defined by chronic hyperglycemia that can be immune-mediated (Type 1 diabetes), insulin-resistant (Type 2 diabetes), gestational. Gongronema latifolium is traditionally used in folk lore medicine for the treatment of various ailments.The pancreas is part of the gastrointestinal system that makes and secretes digestive enzymes into the intestine, and an endocrine organ that makes and secretes hormones into the blood to control energy metabolism and storage throughout the body. The study investigates the effect of hydroethanolic extract of Gongronema latifolium on body weight, glucose level and the pancreas in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. For the investigation, rats were divided into five groups (control, diabetic untreated, diabetic treated with two different doses (200 and 400 mg/kg) extracts of Gongronema latifolium) . The control rats were administered tap water and normal rat diet while streptozotocin was administered once intraperitoneally to all the groups except control after the rats were confirm to be diabetic, Gongronema latifolium hydroethanol extract in two doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg body weight was administered for 14 days to diabetic treated rats groups 4 and 5 respectively. The results revealed that treatment with streptozotocin significant increase (p<0.05) in blood glucose levels and decrease in body weight in diabetic untreated rats when compared with the control which was reversed by treatment. The result also revealed the degenerative effect of streptozotocin induced diabetes on the pancreatic cells especially the pancreatic beta cells. However, treatment with Gongronema latifolium extracts positively restored the integrity and function of the pancreas. This restorative effect may be attributed to its phytochemical constituents such as flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids.