Extracts of Gongronema latifolium and Vernonia amygdalina improve glycaemia and histomorphology of testes of diabetic Wistar rats

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the histomorphological and glycaemic effects of the ethanolic leaf extracts of Vernonia amygdalina (VA) and Gongronema latifolium (GL) on the testis of alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar rats. Forty male Wistar rats were divided into two groups A and C; the former served as negative control group received normal saline, while the later was the diabetic group. This group was further divided into seven (C1 to C7) groups and treated as follows: C1 was diabetic positive control, C2 (150 mg/kg of GL), C3 (300 mg/kg of GL), C4 (150 mg/kg of VA), C5 (300 mg/kg of VA), C6 (100 mg/kg each of GL and VA) and C7 (Insulin 1 IU/kg), respectively. Alloxan (150 mg/kg) was used to induce diabetes and animals were anesthetized with chloroform and sacrificed. Blood glucose was recorded at the start, during and at the end of treatment. Testes were processed for histopathological examination. The groups treated with GL and VA extracts showed better cellular architecture upon histopathological examination than the diabetic control group that revealed marked necrosis and cellular hypoplasia. Blood glucose levels of the treated rats were reduced by GL and VA extracts with good leverage in organ and body weight indices. In conclusion, GL and VA have a protective effect on the histology of the testes and hypoglycemic activity in diabetic rats. Key words: Vernonia amygdalina, Gongronema latifolium, testis, histomorphology, diabetic rats.