Phytochemical Screening and Hypoglycemic Effect of Methanolic Extract of Gongronema Latifolium Leaf in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats

Department of Biochemistry Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria. Corresponding Author: Saidu, A.N __________________________________________________________________________________________ Abstract The phytochemical screening and hypoglycemic effect of methanolic extract of Gongronema latifolium leaf in alloxan induced diabetic rats were investigated. The methanolic extract of Gongronema latifolium was found to contain bioactives viz: flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, steroids, tannins, anthraquinones,cardiac glycosides,anthranoids and terpenes. The phytoconstituents were scientifically found to have strong efficacy against diabetes. The extract significantly (P<0.05) lowered the blood glucose concentration in alloxan induced diabetic albino rats from 668.00+24.00 to 27.33+2.19 at 300mg/kg BW and 668.33+11.67 to 32.33+1.45 at 200mg/kg BW. The highest activity resides at the dose of 300mg/kg BW with percentage glycemic change of 96% while the 200mg/kg BW had percentage glycemic change of 95%. The research is aimed at probing into the traditional claim that the plant part had antidiabetic efficacy. The results have demonstrated the hypoglycemic potential of methanolic extract of Gongronema latifolium leaf. The possible involvement of flavonoids might be responsible for the outcome of the findings. Thus, this study revealed the scientific evidence that the bioactive contained in the plant part could be processed for drug development hence the methanolic extract of the G.latifolium leaf may be used locally for the management of diabetes mellitus. The findings in this study has also provided a baseline study for oral hypoglycemic agents of plant origin. __________________________________________________________________________________________