Effect of Bambara Nut Consumption on Blood Glucose Level

Aim: This study sought to investigate the effect of Bambara nut consumption on blood glucose level and lipid profile of Wistar rats.
Methodology: The Songkhla 1 variety (red seed coat) of Bambara nuts were locally sourced from   Obinze area of Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. The seeds were peeled and ground to a fine powder using a coffee grinder and extracted using soxhlet apparatus and methanol as the solvent. Twenty four adult male Wistar rats were acclimatized for seven days during which they were fed ad libitum with standard feed and drinking water. They were randomly divided into four groups of six rats each. Rats in group A were administered distilled water while those in groups B, C and D were administered 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of Bambara nut extract 12 hourly for twenty-one days via oral route of administration. At the end of 21 days of treatment, animals were sacrificed under diethyl ether as anaesthesia and blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture. Blood glucose level and lipid profile were determined using standard methods.