Effect of Ethanoic Extract of Gongronema latifolium Leaves on Malondialdehyde Level and Antioxidant Enzymes Activities in Tissue Samples of Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

Background/ Objective of Study: Diabetes mellitus continues to be a source of public health problem as a result of its major negative impact on the lives and well-being of individuals, families, and societies worldwide. The study evaluates the effect of ethanoic extract of Gongronema latifolium leaves (GLE) on malondialdehyde level and anti-oxidant enzymes in tissue samples of streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic male Wistar rats. Methodology: Forty (40) male Wistar rats weighing between 100-138g were used for the study. The rats were divided into five groups of eight animals in each. Animals in group one were not induced while those in groups two to five were induced diabetes with single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at a dose of 65 mg/kg body weight. Group one (Normal control) and two (Diabetic control) were fed with rat chow and Water for eight weeks. Groups three, four and five received oral gavage of 200mg/kgbw/day, 400mg/kgbw/day ethanol extract of GLE and100mg/kgbw/day metformin respectively, and rat chow and water for eight weeks. After eight weeks, the rats were sacrificed and the heart, liver and kidney were dissected out. The tissues were rinsed immediately with 0.9% ice-cold normal saline to remove blood and 0.5g of each was homogenized in 5ml of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (pH 7.4) using a mortar and pestle homogenizer and the homogenate was centrifuged using TGL-20M Ultra Refrigerated Centrifuge at 12,000g for 20minutes at 4oC to get the post mitochondrial supernatant. The supernatants were used for the estimation of malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase using standard laboratory methods. Results: Result showed that the liver, kidney and heart malondialdehyde (nmol/ml) were significantly increased while the total antioxidant capacity (μmol/l), glutathione peroxidase (U/mL), catalase (kU/L) and superoxide dismutase (U/ml) were significantly reduced in group two compared with groups one, three, four and five (p<0.05). Conclusion: Ethanoic extract of Gongronema latifolium leaves significantly reduced the liver, kidney and heart malondialdehyde concentration and increased the antioxidant enzymes activities in the treated groups.