International Journal of Bio-Science and Bio-Technology (IJBSBT) ISSN: 2233-7849 Vol-11-Issue-5-May-2019 Hypoglycemic and Hypolipidaemic Activities of Methanolic Extract of Talinum triangulare Leaves in Wistar Rats Augustine I. Airaodion 1* , Adenike R. Adeniji 2 , Emmanuel O. Ogbuagu 3 , Uloaku Ogbuagu 4 and Aanu P. Agunbiade 5 1,4,5 Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria * . 2 Department of Biochemistry, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. 3 Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria. Corresponding Author: augustineairaodion@yahoo.com Abstract This study sought to investigate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidaemic activities of methanolic extract of Talinum triangulare leaves in Wistar rats. Fresh plants of T. triangulare were purchased from a local market in Ibadan. The leaves were dried and milled into powder. The extraction was done using soxhlet apparatus and methanol as the solvent. The methanol was evaporated in a rotary evaporator at 35 o C with a yield of 2.76 g which represents a percentage yield of 11.04%. Ten adult Wistar rats were used for this study. They were divided into two groups of five rats each. Group A was administered saline solution while group B was administered T. triangulare extract. The animals were exposed to the extract and saline solution at a dose of 3 mL per 100 g body weight 12 hourly via oral route of administration. After fourteen days of administration, the animals were fasted overnight and anaesthetized using diethyl ether. Blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture. Fasting blood sugar and lipid profile were determined using standard methods. T. triangulare leaves was observed to significantly lower fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride but increased HDL-cholesterol and HDL/LDL-cholesterol ratio significantly when compared to those of the control group at p<0.05. The result of this study implies that T. triangulare leaves are of significant health importance as far as hyperglucosemia and hyperlipidaemia is concern. It could also be exceedingly helpful in the control of obesity. This pharmacological study is a useful tool for further drug development from the natural plant products. Keywords: Talinum triangulare leaves; fasting blood sugar; lipid profile; diabetes; atherosclerosis. 1. Introduction Vegetables are the cheapest and most available sources of protein, vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids [1]. They are added as supplements to provide useful and correct proportions of nutrients and some have medicinal properties useful for the invalids and convalescences. Consumable vegetables are those plants whose leaves or aerial parts have been integrated into a food chain for consumption over a large span of time. They are highly recommended because they have a relatively high nutritional value and their consumption gives daily food intake and adding flavour to the diet. Vegetables constitute essential components of the diet, by contributing nutrients and food properties that are important to human health. A healthy heart and circulation system could benefit from a balanced diet with adequate fruits and vegetables [2]. Epidemiological evidences support a significantly positive correlation between eating fruits and vegetables as well as cardiovascular health [3, 4]. Increased awareness on the usefulness of vegetable inclusions in human food has enhanced their consumption as part of daily diet. Consumption of vegetables has been associated with a reduction in the incidences of chronic diseases of lifestyle such as cardiovascular diseases, coronary heart diseases and various types of cancer. Page 1