Abstract

Olorunfemi Eseyin*, Patrick Ebong, Eyong Eyong, Oladoja Awofisayo and Akeem Agboke

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.