Fasting blood sugar and clinical biochemistry profiles of diabetic rats treated with methanol leaf extract of <em>Gnetum africanum</em> Welw.

Abstract

<em>Gnetum africanum</em> Welw. is widely used in West Africa for the treatment of diverse diseases including diabetes and as food. However, scientific information on its antidiabetic activity using dose-response tests and sub-acute anti-diabetic study is scarce. This was studied using alloxan induced diabetic rats. Dose response test (n = 6) was conducted using different doses of the extract (400, 800, 1600 mg/kg); distilled water and glibenclamide were administered to the negative and positive controls, respectively. A 21-day sub-acute antidiabetic study was used to assess the effect of different doses (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg) of the extract on fasting blood sugar (FBS) and clinical biochemistry (n = 10). <em>Gnetum africanum</em> methanol leaf extract produced significant dose and time-dependent reductions in FBS. The highest reduction was observed six hours post treatment in rats treated with 1,600 mg/kg of the extract (p < 0.0001). The extract also elicited significant (p < 0.01; p < 0.001) reductions in FBS in the sub-acute study. The extract significantly (p < 0.05; p < 0.01) reduced the cholesterol, triglycerides, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) of diabetic rats. Serum liver enzymes, urea and creatinine were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in treated diabetic rats. These results validate the indigenous use of <em>Gnetum africanum</em> in treatment of diabetes.