Pharmacotherapeutic Effect of Methanolic Extract of Telfairia occidentalis Leaves on Glycemic and Lipidemic Indexes of Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Diabetes is a major health challenge globally and it is on the increase as carbohydrate is the main food consumed by an average human. Up till now, no synthetic drug has been able to provide permanent cure to diabetes. This study sought to investigate the pharmacotherapeutic effect of methanolic extract of Telfairia occidentalis leaves on glycemic and lipidemic indexes of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Thirty adult male albino rats were induced intraperitoneally with alloxan. The rats were grouped into six groups of five animals per group: Group A rats are not induced with alloxan, Group B animals serve as the negative control, Group C animals serve as positive control and were treated with glibenclaimide, Group D, E and F animals were treated with 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight of methanolic leaf extract of T. occidentalis respectively. The extracts were administered to the animals orally for 14 days. The animal’s blood sugar  levels  were  assayed  using  glucometer. The lipid profiles parameters were assayed using standard methods. The animals administered with 200, 400 and 600 mg/Kg B.W of extract showed significant decrease (P<0.05) in blood sugar level compared to the untreated animals. The decrease in the blood glucose level of the animals following the administration of the plant extract suggested that the plant extract possesses hypoglycemic effects in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The extract of T. occidentalis produces hypolipidaemic effect and this is evident as there are significant decrease in plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol and an increase in plasma high density lipoprotein-cholesterol in the treated groups compared to the untreated group. This implies that T. occidentalis leaves could replace glibenclamide in the treatment of diabetes as it has no side effect. The leaves could also be exceedingly helpful in the control of obesity and hypertension. This pharmacological study is a useful tool for further drug development from the natural plant products.