Effect of the root extract of <i>Telfairia occidentalis</i> on some biochemical parameters in rat

Abstract

The effect of the ethanol root extract of Telfairia occidentalis on glucose level was evaluated at different dose levels in normoglycaemic rats (150,250, and 500mg/kg), glucose loaded rats (150 and 500mg/kg), and sub acute administration of 200mg/kg of the extract for 15 days. Blood glucose was determined at 0, 1, 2 and 4 hours; 0,15,30,45 and 60 minutes in the normoglycaemic and glucose loaded rats, respectively. In the sub acute administration of the extract, blood glucose level was estimated on days 1, 5, 9 and 15 with weights of the rats taken every other day. On the 15th day of sub acute administration, the rats were sacrificed and blood collected from their hearts. Aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol, triglycerides, high density-, low density-, very low density-lipoproteins, glucose, creatinine and total proteins. The extract did not show any hypoglycaemic effect. And none of the parameters evaluated in the test animal showed significant difference from the control. The results show that, unlike the leaf, the root of T. occidentalis did not possess hypoglycaemic activity and the claim of toxicity of the root when eaten was not confirmed by this work..

Keywords: Telfairia occidentalis; Glucose; Toxicity; biomolecules

Journal of Pharmacy and Bioresources Vol. 3 (1) 2006: pp. 41-45