Ethanolic extract of gynura procumbensleaf improved blood glucose, hbaiclevels and glucose tolerance in diabetic rats

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a clinical condition characterized by elevated blood glucose level as a result of biochemical alterations in glucose and lipid metabolism due to the disturbance in insulin production, action, or both, leading to glycosylation of hemoglobin and the formation of HbAlc. Gynura procumbens, also known as "pokok sam bung nyawa", is a herbal shrub currently being investigated to determine its hypoglycemic potential. The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of Gynura procumbens leaf ethanolic extract on blood glucose, HbA1c levels and glucose tolerance in diabetic rats, and comparing it with an anti-diabetic agent, glibenclamide. Male Sprague Dawley rats (24) were divided into two groups, which were normal (12), and diabetic rats (12), induced into diabetic via intravenous injection of streptozotocin (55 mglkg). Each group was then subdivided into 3 (n = 4); negative control which were given distilled water, Gynura procumbens extract- treated (100 mglkg) and glibenclamide-treated groups (5 mglkg). The treatment was given daily for 1 month via force-feeding. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed during the third week of treatment. All of the rats were slaughtered after 1 month of treatment and aortal blood was used for HbAl c determination. The oral glucose tolerance test showed that treatment with Gynura procumbens extract and glibenclamide increased glucose tolerance in both normal and diabetic rats. Treatment with Gynura procumbens extract and glibenclamide showed significant decrease (p<0.05) in fasting blood glucose level of diabetic rats, 19.03 � 0.52 mmolll and 21.0 � 0.7 mmolll, respectively as compared to diabetic control (33.2 � 0.12 mmolll). Treatment with Gynura procumbens extract and glibenclamide also resulted in significant decrease (p<0. 05) in HbAl c level of diabetic rats, 2.86 � 0.09 mg/g hemoglobin and 3.29 � 0.15 mg/g hemoglobin, respectively as compared to diabetic control (8.46 � 0.12 mg/g hemoglobin). Therefore, it showed that Gynura procumbens leaf ethanolic extract has similar effects as glibenclamide in improving blood glucose, HbA1 c levels and glucose tolerance in diabetic rats