ABSTRACT

The effect of Vernonia amygdalina leaf extract on the carbohydrate and amylose contents of the faeces of rats fed with rice were investigated in this study. Thirty-five (35) albino rats were divided into seven treatment groups: A= Negative control, B= animals fed with glucose (positive control), C= animals fed with extract and rice (0.1ml/body weight), D= animals fed with extract and rice (0.2ml/body weight), E= animals fed with extract and rice (0.3ml/body weight), F= animals fed with extract and rice (0.4ml/body weight) and Group F= animals fed with rice for this experiments. The experiment lasted for 12 days. Rat fecal Samples were collected at intervals and evaluated for its percentage carbohydrate and amylose contents. The result of the percentage carbohydrate and amylose in the rice and vernonia amygdalina samples used in the present study are (30.59±0.33, 8.6±0.72) and (3.86±0.29, 0.31±0.22) respectively. There was a dose dependent decrease in the carbohydrate content of the fecal samples in the treatment groups compared to the controls from days 3 to 12. Rats fed with 0.4ml of extract/kg body weight had the lowest percentage carbohydrate in their faeces. The percentage fecal amylose content was highest in the treatment group with 0.4ml of extract/kg body weight of rats closely followed by the treatment group with 0.3ml of extract/kg of rat’s body weight compared to the controls and the other treatment groups from days 3 to 12.Overall, the vernonia amygdalina leaf extracts used in the present study significantly enhanced carbohydrate metabolism in the rats and thus has great potential in the treatment and management of diabetes mellitus. Keywords: Vernonia amygdalina, carbohydrate and amylose contents

https://ijbpas.com/pdf/2019/August/MS_IJBPAS_2019_4788.pdf

Download PDF
https://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2019/8.8.4788