ABSTRACT
The study was carried out to evaluate the anti-diabetic effect of Luffa cylindrical (nativesponge/spongegourd) seed and leaf extracts in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Sixteen experimental rats were divided into four groups of four rats each: a, diabetic control; b, normal control; c, diabetic rats treated with seed extract (400mg/kg) and d, diabetic rats treated with leaf extract (400mg/kg). The groups A, C and D rats were induced with diabetes intraperitoneally with alloxan (150mg/kg bw). Phytochemical screening was carried out on the plant seed and leaf extracts and the following biochemical tests were carried out: blood glucose, serum lipid profile, serum alanine aminotransferase, serum aspartate aminotransferase, serum alkaline phosphatase, total protein, albumin, creatinine, urea, uric acid and some electrolytes likeNa+, K+, HCO3-, and Cl-the administration of alloxan to experimental rats resulted in an increased level of most biochemical parameters; blood glucose, serum alanine aminotransferase, serum aspartate aminotransferase and serum alkaline phosphatase, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein, creatinine, urea and uric acid. Luffa cylindricaseed and leaf extractswas administered to groups c and d diabetic rats respectively for two weeks, results werecompared with normal control and diabetic control rats these parameters were found to be significantly (p<0.05) high in the diabetic groups than in the normal control groups. Treatment with the plant extract significantly (p<0.05) reduced elevated blood levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, urea, uric acid associated with alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The plant tested positive for alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and tannins, negative for cardiac glycosides, phenols, resins, terpenes and steroids. Extracts of Luffa cylindricaseed and leaf has shown to have anti-diabetic and anti-lipidemic effects generally on alloxan induced diabetic rats. The study’s findings has shown that the plant possess hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic property and has supported the traditional use of Luffa cylindricaplant in the management of diabetes and its complications.