Abi E, Abi I and Ladan MJ
Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterised by high blood glucose levels. The effect and management of this metabolic disorder are of significant socio-economic and medical concern. Abelmoschus esculentus (okra), an important vegetable has been shown to possess medicinal value. Different extracts of the okra in regulating blood glucose on alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar rats were investigated. IP injection of alloxan (80 mg/kg) was used to induce diabetes. Animals were administered Abelmoschus esculentus peel (AEP); Abelmoschus esculentus seed (AES) and Abelmoschus esculentus seed and peel (AESP) all at 100 mg/kg and distilled water for the control. The last group had metformin at 100 mg/kg. Blood glucose was measured using the one-touch glucometer strip on days 5, 10 and 15. The AEP, AES and AESP groups showed a significant decrease in blood glucose (p<0.05) compared to the metformin group. AESP most significantly (p<0.05) reduced blood glucose (96.84 ± 9.09) compared to metformin group (182.70 ± 34.81) on day 15. It can be concluded that whole extracts of okra are beneficial for a reduction in blood glucose when compared to a routine hypoglycemic agent or other okra extracts. This could be due to its high fiber content which helps to slow down the rate of glucose absorption from the bowel, coupled with a hepatic drug effect.
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