Abstract
The mechanism of anti-diabetic activity of Gongronema latifolium was evaluated. The ethanol extract of the leaves of G. latifolium were fractionated using solvents of increasing polarity, namely n-hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate and ethanol. Phytochemical screening of the dried fractions were carried and then acute toxicity tests on mice carried out. The induction of diabetes mellitus was achieved with 150 mg/kg b.w for mild diabetes and 300 mg/kg b.w for the severe condition. The effects of the crude ethanol extract (CEE) and its fractions on alloxan-induced hyperglycaemia were monitored. The result obtained reveals that crude ethanol extract significantly and dose-dependently reduced hyperglycaemia. The fractions of the ethanol extract equally reduced hyperglycaemia but the level of reduction was affected by the phytochemical content. This suggests that an intact pancreas is required for the hypoglycaemic action which is the mechanism of action of the sulphonylureas. Key words: Anti-diabetic, Gongronema latifolium, hyperglycaemia, hypoglycaemia, phytochemical screening.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus is a prototype of chronic disease and one of the world’s leading causes of death, illness and reduced quality of life in both industrialised and industrialising nations of the world
The British Medical Association (BMA) dictionary defines diabetes mellitus as a disorder caused by insufficient or absent production of the hormone insulin by the pancreas or because the tissues are resistant to the effects
The results from this work show that G. latifolium leaf extract contained important phytochemicals such as terpenoids, steroids, flavonoid, alkaloids and saponins in the other and glycosides associated with anti-diabetic activities
Summary
Diabetes mellitus is a prototype of chronic disease and one of the world’s leading causes of death, illness and reduced quality of life in both industrialised and industrialising nations of the world. It is a major public health problem because of the direct and indirect cost of its treatment and the elevated morbidity and mortality of the disease (Matthews and Matthews, 2011). The British Medical Association (BMA) dictionary defines diabetes mellitus as a disorder caused by insufficient or absent production of the hormone insulin by the pancreas or because the tissues are resistant to the effects. Clinical conditions of the vascular system, kidney, eye, nerves and skin affect all ages and imposes huge economic burden on families
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