EFFECT OF MORINGA OLEIFERA ON HYPERGLYCAEMIC RESPONSE INDUCED BY SUBCHRONIC FRUCTOSE FEEDING IN SUSCEPTIBILITY RATS

Abstract

The effect of Moringaoleiferaon fructose-induced hyperglycaemia was investigated in rats in-view of the increasing incidence of fructose induced metabolic syndrome usually characterized by insulin resistance among other features. When compared to the control, fructose-fed rats showed higher glycaemic response in the rats. Moringaoleiferahowever, reached the glucose-induced hyperglycaemia when administered in combination with glucose orally into the animals for oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Glucose tolerance analysis revealed that the blood glucose level of fructose-fed rats reached a higher peak level of 9.0+0.7mmol/l compared with the peak plasma glucose concentration of 6.5+0.6 mmol/ml in animals not given a combination of glucose with the extract (P<0.05). However, when Moringaoleifera was administered simultaneously with glucose for OGTT, it caused lower glycaemic response judging from the lower GRI or glycaemic response index of 260.0+ 11.60mmol.min/l compared to the GRI (463.3+20.1mmol.min/l) of fructose-fed rats not given the extract (P<0.05), thus M. oleifera improved glucose tolerance as indicated by the higher glucose tolerance index (GTI) of fructose-fed rats treated with M. oleifera compared to their counterparts that were not given the extract (P<0.05). Thus, M. oleifera improved glucose handling in fructose-induced glucose intolerance in the rats. The call for restriction of intake of fructose diets and the possible therapeutic significance of M. oleifera in diabetes, particularly in type-2 diabetes was therefore upheld.