RESUMO
Aims: The role of thyroid hormones as important mediator of glucose metabolism and body weight dynamics had long been established. This study was therefore designed to evaluate the effect of standard thyro-active drugs in comparison to crude nutritional extracts, on blood glucose level and body weight changes. Methodology: Albino wistar rats weighing between 100 - 150g were randomly assigned to seven groups of seven rats each. Group 1 served as control, while groups 2-7 were orally administered Fresh orange juice(FOJ) (1500mg/kg), Fresh soybean(FSB) (0.01mg/kg), levothyroxine (LVT) (0.01mg/kg), carbimazole (Carb) (0.01mg/kg), FSB+LVT and FOJ+Carb respectively once daily for twenty eight days. Weekly weight records were taken and the difference calculated as weight changes. The animals were sacrificed and blood samples collected by cardiac puncture. Serum was obtained by standard procedure and used for blood glucose estimation. Results: Separate treatment with both FOJ and FSB significantly (P<0.05) increased the blood glucose levels and body weight compared to control. Levothyroxine significantly (P<0.05) increased the blood glucose levels but significantly (P<0.05) decreased the body weight compared to the FOJ treated group. Carbimazole significantly (P<0.05) decreased the blood glucose levels compared to the control, FOJ and FSB treated groups. FSB+LVT treatment significantly (P<0.05) decreased the blood glucose levels compared to the LVT group and also significantly (P<0.05) decreased the body weight compared to the control, FOJ and FSB groups. FOJ+Carbimazole combination treatment significantly (P<0.05) decreased the blood glucose levels compared to LVT treatment and also significantly (P<0.05) decreased the body weight compared to the FOJ and FSB groups. FOJ significantly reduced T4 and T3 levels compared to control. FOJ, Carb and FOJ+Carb significantly (p<0.05) reduced T4 level compared to control. Conclusion: The acclaimed antithyroid activity of FOJ and FSB did not appear to directly correlate with that of carbimazole, a standard antithyroid drug, considering their effect on blood glucose level and body weight changes. However their combination treatment with Carb and LVT respectively, showed similar pattern with carbimazole.
RESUMO
Aims: Acute changes in the blood glucose concentration have a substantial effect on intestinal motility in both diabetic and healthy subjects. This research work was therefore designed to assess the effect of DM on GIT motor activity and the impact of treatment with OG on same. Methodology: The phytoconstituents and median lethal dose of the plant extract was determined before administration. Eighteen rats were used; the animals were divided into three groups of six rats each. Group 1 served as the control which was fed with normal feed. Group 2 was diabetic untreated rats (DM) while group 3 was OG treated diabetic rats (DMT). At the end of 28 days, the intestinal transit and motility were determined using graded doses of acetylcholine, adrenaline and atropine. Results: The DMT intestine showed greater increase in contraction with increase in concentration of acetylcholine, application of adrenaline showed that the ileum of the DMT had a significantly lower (P=.001) percentage change in relaxation when compared to control or DM groups but there was no significant difference between DM and control group. While atropine caused a significant increase (P=.001) in percentage change in relaxation in the DMT group when compared to control and DM groups. There was no significant difference between the DM and control group. DM and the DMT groups had significantly higher (P=.05) percentage transit than the control group. There were no significant differences between DM and DMT groups. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that impaired intestinal motor activity in type I STZ-induced diabetic rats is enhanced by treatment with OG, this may be possibly due to its hypoglycemic effect and its concomitant impact on related biochemical and neuroendocrine interplay that affect GI motor function.