Effects of aqueous extract of Launaea taraxacifolia leaf on glucose, glycogen levels and lactate dehydrogenase activity in male wistar rats

Abstract

Launae taraxacifolia is an annual West Tropical Africa herb commonly known as wild lettuce. The leaves of Launae taraxafolia (L.taraxafolia) have been reported to possess traditional, medicinal and social uses but little has been reported of its effect on blood glucose level. This study was therefore designed to determine the effect of aqueous extract of L. taraxacifolia leaf on blood glucose, liver and muscle glycogen levels and lactate dehydrogenase activity (LDH) in rats. Forty (40) adult male rats were divided into eight groups of 5 rats per group (n=5). Groups I, II and III rats were administered orally with 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg doses of aqueous extract of L. taraxacifolia leaf for one week while rats in groups V, VI and VII received same doses of the leaf extract for 2 weeks. The control groups were given distilled water. Blood glucose was determined by modified glucose oxidase method. Liver and muscle glycogen content was estimated by anthrone reagent method while the LDH activity was measured using commercial LDH Randox kits. The results showed that the 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg doses of the aqueous leaf extract caused significant decrease (P<0.05) in blood glucose levels of rats after 1 week of treatment but did not produce any significant effect on glucose levels after 2 weeks of treatment. However, after 1 week of treatment, the 200mg/kg dose of the extract caused significant increase in muscle glycogen, LDH activity but significant reduction in liver glycogen while the 200mg/kg did not cause any effect on liver glycogen, muscle glycogen and LDH activity after 2 weeks of administration. This study has shown that L. taraxacifolia leaf has glucose lowering effect and may be acting through glycolysis and glycogenesis in the muscle.