Antihyperglycaemia and related gene expressions of aqueous extract of <i>Gongronema latifolium</i> leaf in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

<b>Context:</b> <i>Gongronema latifolium</i> Benth (Asclepiadaceae) has been highly utilized in controlling diabetes mellitus traditionally in the eastern part of Nigeria. <b>Objectives:</b> Antihyperglycaemic and related gene expressions of aqueous extract of <i>Gongronema latifolium</i> leaf in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. <b>Materials and methods:</b> Forty-eight female Wistar rats were induced intraperitoneally using alloxan (150 mg/kg body weight). The rats were separated into six groups (<i>n</i> = 8) as follows: non-diabetic control, diabetic control, diabetic rats administered 5 mg/kg body weight of metformin, and diabetic rats administered 6.36, 12.72 and 25.44 mg/kg body weight (ethnobotanical doses) of <i>G. latifolium</i> orally daily. On the 14th day, the animals were sacrificed and different antihyperglycaemic parameters were evaluated as well as its related gene expressions. <b>Results:</b> Diabetic rats administered three doses of aqueous extract of <i>G. latifolium</i> significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) lowered the fasting blood glucose, glycated haemoglobin, serum lipid profiles, lipid peroxidation (5.62-1.2 μ/mg protein) levels, as well as gene expression of glucose-6-phosphatase in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. There was a significant (<i>p</i> < 0.05) increase in the liver glycogen content (16.23-112.5 mg glucose/2 g), antioxidant enzymes activities, glucose transporter (GLUT-2 and GLUT-4) levels and relative gene expression of hexokinase in diabetic rats administered different doses of aqueous extract of <i>G. latifolium</i>. <b>Discussion and conclusions:</b> It can be deduced that the aqueous extract of <i>G. latifolium</i> leaf at these doses may be useful in managing diabetes mellitus and its associated complications. Therefore, this extract may be a potent antidiabetic agent in clinical therapy in the future.