title: The effect of Gongronema latifolium extracts on serum lipid profile and oxidative stress in hepatocytes of diabetic rats.
abstract: Diabetes is known to involve oxidative stress and changes in lipid metabolism. Many secondary plant metabolites have been shown to possess antioxidant activities, improving the effects of oxidative stress on diabetes. This study evaluated the effects of extracts from Gongronema latifolium leaves on antioxidant enzymes and lipid profile in a rat model of non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). The results confirmed that the untreated diabetic rats were subjected to oxidative stress as indicated by significantly abnormal activities of their scavenging enzymes (low superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxide activities), compared to treated diabetic rats, and in the extent of lipid peroxidation (high malondialdehyde levels) present in the hepatocytes. The ethanolic extract of G. latifolium leaves possessed antioxidant activity as shown by increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities and decreases in malondialdehyde levels. High levels of triglycerides and total cholesterol, which are typical of the diabetic condition, were also found in our rat models of diabetes. The ethanolic extract also significantly decreased triglyceride levels and normalized total cholesterol concentration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, 500 Jones Hall, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USA. ngozi.ugochukwu@famu.edu
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Ugochukwu
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Babady
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cobourne
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Gasset
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029062:Apocynaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014280:Triglycerides; D000431:Ethanol; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002784:Cholesterol; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase