THE IMPACT OF AQUEOUS LEAF EXTRACT OF PERSEA AMERICANA ON LIVER AND MUSCLE GLYCOGEN AND BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS IN RATS

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of aqueous leaf extract of Persea americana (avocado plant) on liver and muscle glycogen and blood glucose levels in rats. Twenty adult male Wistar rats (120- 160g) were divided into four (4) groups. Group 1 was treated with 0.5ml of distilled (control group) while groups 2, 3 and 4 received orally P. americana extracts at doses of 100, 300 and 500mg/kg per body weight respectively for 21 days. At the end of the treatments, body weight was determined and blood samples obtained for glucose estimation while the liver and gastrocnemius muscle were harvested for the determination of glycogen using anthrone reagent. The data were analysed at p≤0.05 significance using one-way ANOVA. The result showed that 300mg/kg per body of P. americana extracts significantly increase body weight compared with the control. However, the various doses of P. americana aqueous leaf extracts caused no significant change in blood glucose levels compared with the control at 7 (71.20±5.92mg/dl) or 21(74.60±3.83mg/dl) days of treatments. There was a significant decrease in liver glycogen (480.28±30.14 vs 362.87±29.80 vs 338.96±38.88 vs 363.64±10.48mg/100g tissues respectively) and muscle glycogen (480.18±73.19 vs 318.47±22.31 vs 289.08±38.65 vs 265.04±47.13mg/100g tissues respectively) levels in the treated groups compared with the control. In conclusion, the results suggest that oral administration of aqueous leaves extract of P. americana can led to reduction in liver and muscle glycogen stores, suggestive of a compensatory mechanism by the body to maintain a relatively normal blood glucose level.