ISSN 2326-7267
International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 4 (10), pp. 001-005, October, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Effect of Telfairia occidentalis on oral glucose tolerance in rats
Olorunfemi Eseyin1*, Patrick Ebong2, Eyong Eyong2, Oladoja Awofisayo1 and Akeem Agboke3
1Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Nigeria.
2Department of Biochemistry, University of Calabar, Nigeria.
3Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Uyo, Nigeria.
Accepted 10 June, 2015
Abstract
The effect of ethanolic extracts of the leaf, seed and fruit of Telfairia occidentalis on oral glucose tolerance was determined. 500 mg/kg of the leaf, seed and fruit extracts were administered separately to a set of overnight fasted rats simultaneously with glucose solution (1 g/kg). Also, 500 mg/kg of the extracts were separately administered 45 min before glucose solution (1 g/kg) was given. Blood glucose concentration was evaluated at 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min after treatment in both cases. In the simultaneous administration of extracts with glucose, only the leaf extract reduced glucose concentration significantly with AUC and GI values of 11,121.75 and 80.7% compared to control values of 13,782.00 and 100%. When the extracts were administered 45 min before glucose, the leaf and fruit extracts reduced glucose levels significantly with AUC and GI values of 11,240.25 and 84.5%; 10,650.75 and 80.1%, respectively, compared to control values of 13,294.50 and 100%. These results suggest that the ethanolic leaf extract of T. occidentalis could be useful in treatment of impaired oral glucose tolerance.
Key words: Telfairia occidentalis, oral glucose tolerance, glucose, area under the curve, glycemic index.