Hypoglycemic effect of Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lacomate Ex. Ororke), Baill in Type 2 Diabetic Long-Evans Rats

Abstract

Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lacomate Ex. Ororke), Baill (African wild mango/bush mango) seeds are
widely used in cooking as a sauce in Cameroon and in most parts of tropical Africa for the treatment of a number of
ailments. In this study normal rat food was incorporated with I. gabonensis seed powder (10%) and oil free seed
powder (5%) and their chronic effects on streptozotocin induced Type 2 diabetic rats were studied. Oral consumption
of food incorporated with seed powder significantly reduced serum glucose level on the 28th day (p<0.01) which was
comparable with glibenclamide treated group. Food with oil free seed powder showed 24% fall in glucose level on
the 28th day. Fasting serum insulin increased significantly (p<0.001) in glibenclamide and oil free seed powder
treated (p<0.008) groups. No effect was observed in the seed powder treated group. Liver glycogen content increased
in the glibenclamide treated group but no significant change was observed in both powder and oil free seed powder
treated groups. On the 28th day seed powder treated group significantly lowered serum TG level (p<0.033) and 48%
was lowered by oil free seed powder. It is concluded that seed powder as well as oil free seed powder lowered blood
glucose level in Type 2 diabetic model rats. It seems to act as an insulinomimetic and/or insulin sensitizing agent.