Research Journal of Medicinal Plants 1819-3455 2151-7924 Science International 10.3923/rjmp.2013.107.112 Gongronema latifolium and Nauclea latifolia with Insulin Requirement in the Management of Type I Diabetes]]> Effiong Grace Sylvester O.C. Mbagwu Herbert E. Udoh Imoh M. Udo Nsikan J. Atangwho Item E. Ebong Patrick N. Asuquo Ekpo A. Wilson Lucy 2 2013 7 2 Polyherbal therapy, sometimes called polyherbalism-a combination of herbs or phytochemicals from more than one source, has today become accepted as an effective therapeutic approach in sourcing medicament for degenerative ailments. The present study, investigated the effect of combined extracts from Gongronema latifolium (GL) and Nauclea latifolia (NL) on some hormonal indices of normal and diabetic rats. Type 1 diabetes was induced with streptozotocin (50 mg kg-1 b.w.) and the hormonal parameters were measured using standard methods. Measured c-peptide levels showed significant increase in diabetic rats treated with the combined extracts and only GL relative to non-diabetic control. Whereas there were significant increase (p<0.05) in serum triiodothyronine (T3) and tetraiodothyronine (T4) concentrations of diabetic control when compared to normal control, administration of both combined extracts and insulin caused significant reduction (p<0.05) in T3 and T4 relative to the diabetic control, although, this observation differed in the non diabetic test animals. Measured serum insulin level was significantly reduced (p<0.05) in untreated diabetic rats relative to normal control, administration of only GL and its combination with NL extracts also reduced the level in a manner similar to insulin administration. On the contrary, normal rats that received similar treatments showed significant increase (p<0.05) in serum insulin level. Therefore, combined extracts of Gongronema latifolium and Nauclea latifolia may mimic insulin in its antihyperglycemic action at least in rats.

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