INTESTINAL FLUID AND GLUCOSE TRANSPORT IN RATS TREATED WITH ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF GONGRONEMA LATIFOLIUM

Alagwu, E.A.¹, Nwozor, C.M.², Umuakobong, A.U.³, and Osim, E.E.³

¹Department of Physiology, Imo State University, Owerri.

²Department of Physiology, Anambra State University, Uli.

³Department of Physiology, University of Calabar.

E-mail:corneliusnwozor@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Effect of ethanolic extract of Gongronema latifolium on intestinal fluid transfer and glucose uptake across the small intestine of albino rats was studied using 12 male albino rats weighing between 140g-200g. The rats were randomly grouped into 2 (the control and test groups), six rats in each group. The test group was fed with ethanolic extracts of G. latifolium at a dose of 200mg/kg body weight for 60days and rat feeds. The control group was fed with rat feeds and equal volume of normal saline. Tap water was given to both groups. The feeds and volume of water intake were weighed, measured and recorded. At the end of the experiment, the animals were killed by cervical dislocation, the small intestine dissected out of each rat, cut into four segments of 10cm long (two from the jejunum and two from the ileum) and used for glucose and fluid uptake study, using the everted sac technique of Wilson and Wiseman (1954) as modified by Adeniyi and Olowookorun (1987). The results obtained showed that there were no significant differences (P>0.05) in glucose uptake (2.82±0.57mmol/g sac/30mins) and intestinal fluid transfer (0.31±0.18ml/mg sac /30minutes) in the extract treated (test) rats compared with the control group (fluid transfer: 0.33±0.12ml/mg sac/30 minutes, glucose uptake: 2.29±0.36mmol/g sac /30minutes). However, there was significant increase (P<0.05) in the percentage weight gain (28.6%), percentage food intake (73.9%) and percentage water intake (35%) in the extract treated (test) rats compared with the control (percentage body weight gain, 20%, percentage food intake, 41.3%, percentage water intake, 23.5%). The results showed that administration of Gongronema latifolium leaf extracts does not significantly (P>0.05) affect glucose uptake and gut fluid transfer in rat but significantly (P<0.05) caused body weight gain as well as increased water and food intake in the test group.