Background and objective: Medicinal plants constitute a fundamental component of the traditional healthcare system in rural communities throughout Africa and Gongronema latifolium (GL), is widely trusted in Nigeria to have strong nutritional and medicinal values. This study was done to determine the effect of maternal consumption of GL during lactation in young adult offspring.
Materials and methods: Twenty four female albino Wistar rats were used for this study and were randomly assigned to four (4) groups. Group I: Control, Group II, 100 mg kg-1, III, 200 mg kg-1 and IV: 400 mg kg-1 at delivery. The extract was administered orally and daily throughout lactation.
Results: At postnatal day 42, offspring of extract-treated groups showed a dose-related significant decrease (p<0.05) in body weight, food intake, glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and a significant increase in liver weight index, pancreatic weight index, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and insulin concentrations of the offspring when compared with control in both sexes. Histological examination showed that GL extract caused histological alterations of the liver structures with various changes in the size of the sinusoids, with mild inflammatory cells without hepatotoxicity and cellular multiplication when compared with control.
Conclusion: This study suggested that consumption of GL extract by lactating dams may improve metabolic homeostasis in young adult offspring.
Keywords: Gongronema latifolium; lactation; leaf extract; lipid profile; metabolic homeostasis; offspring.