Phytochemical And Blood Sugar Lowering Properties Of Uziza (Piper Gunieese') And Utazi (Gongronema Latilodium) Leaves Extracts Using Diabetic Rats:- nyanso Anita

ABSTRACT

 Phytochemical and blood sugar lowering properties of uziza {Piper gunieese) and utazi (Gongronema latilodium) leaves extracts using diabetic rats was studied. Ethanoic extraction was performed on the different leaf samples to obtain utazi leaf extract and ukazi leaf extracts. The uziza leaf and utazi leaf extracts were analysed for phytochemicals using standard method. The leaves extract were used in the treatment of alloxan induced diabetic rats. Acute toxicity (LD50) tests were carried out on the treated rats. The effects ofthe leaf extracts on acute toxicity, acute and sub-acute hypoglycemic study, body weight and lipid profile were also investigated. Findings showed that phytochemical properties ofthe leaves ranged from 2.06 to 9.44% % flavonoid, 3.59 to 9.11 % alkaloid, 1.95 to 18.76 % saponin, 0.07 to 0.28 % phytate. Acute and sub-acute studies on blood glucose level revealed that 800 mg/kg of the leaf extracts significantly (P<0.05) lowered blood glucose level in diabetic rats and compared favourably with effect of Glibenclamide (5mg/kg), a standard hypoglycaemic drug. The study shows that there was higher body weight gain in diabetic rats from the extract of400mg and 800mg of utazi The extract significantly (P<0.05) increased the levels of triglycerides, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol but increased the levels ofhigh density lipoprotein cholesterol in diabetic rats. These results suggest that uziza leaf and utazi leaves contain potent hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic agents capable of reversing hyperglycaemia and haematological abnormalities associated with the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus.