Abstract

There is a need to search for safer compounds for the control of diabetes mellitus due to the side effects of available drugs, including oxidative stress, hepatoinflammation, and gastrointestinal issues. This research studied the in vitro glucose-lowering and antioxidant properties of methanol leaf extracts of Gongronema latifolium and Ocimum gratissimum using standard protocols. From the results, the methanol leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium has significantly higher (p < 0.05) glucose-lowering activity than the extract of Ocimum gratissimum. However, Ocimum gratissimum extract showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) antioxidant properties than that of Gongronema latifolium. In conclusion, both extracts had appreciable glucose-lowering and antioxidant properties and could be useful in the management of oxidative stress and hyperglycemia associated with diabetes mellitus.