The Effects of Aqueous and Ethanolic Extracts of Vitex doniana Leaf on Postprandial Blood Sugar Concentration in Wister Rats
O. E. Yakubu *
Department of Biochemistry, Federal University, Wukari, Nigeria
O. F. C. Nwodo
Department of Biochemistry, Federal University, Wukari, Nigeria
S. M. C. Udeh
Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
M. Abdulrahman
Department of Microbiology, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
In this study, the effects of the leaves of V. doniana aqueous and ethanolic extracts on postprandial blood glucose was analyzed. In the first experiment, 25 Wistar albino rats were divided into 5 groups of 5 rats each. Treatment was carried out orally for one day. Overnight fasted animals (group 2-4, 18 hrs) were orally administered different doses of the extract 10 minutes prior to the administration of sucrose at a dose of 2 g/kg. The postprandial blood sugar was measured before administration (at 0 minute), and after administration (30, and 60 minutes). In the second experiment, same procedure was repeated as in the first experiment but sucrose was substituted by glucose administration (2 g/kg). Results showed that both the 50 mg and 100 mg/kg ethanolic and aqueous extracts significantly decreased (p<0.05) the postprandial blood sugar concentration at 30 minutes compared to the control value. Conclusively, these results suggest that ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the leaves of Vitex doniana have remarkable inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase enzymes with promising clinical relevance of reducing hyperglycaemia via this mechanism.
Keywords: Postprandial, blood sugar, Vitex doniana