Background: Cola pachycarpa and Cola lepidota are two varieties of fruit known as Monkey cola. They are from the same plant family. The plant was predominantly found in the wild until recently. There is basic information on the leaves, seeds, and fruits of this plant. However, there is paucity of empirical studies on their consumption and utilization pattern. Objective: The study evaluated the consumption and utilization pattern of the leaves, fruits and seeds of these two varieties of Monkey Cola, pachycarpa and lepidota in two South-Eastern States of Nigeria. Materials and methods: The study adopted a cross-sectional survey. The survey employed a multi-stage random sampling technique to select 808 adults from different communities in Isiala Mbano local government area of Imo State and Isiala Ngwa South local government area of Abia State. A structured validated questionnaire was used to obtain information on consumption and utilization pattern of the fruits, leaves and seeds in the survey areas. Data was analysed statistically using IBM-SPSS (Special Package for Social Sciences) version 20 software. Results: Cola pachycarpa was more popular (84.5%) and the fruits were consumed mainly raw (99.0%). The leaves and seeds are not eaten but used for medicinal purposes, though the seeds ranked highest in this regard (48.3%). Conclusion: The fruits particularly Cola pachycarpa were popular. They were consumed raw while the leaves and seeds were solely used in traditional medicine.

Background: Diversity is a potential source for immense untapped material wealth in the forms of food, medicine and other amenities. One of these neglected plants is Monkey Cola. Objective: The study evaluated the effect of Cola pachycarpa and Cola lepidota fruit juices on the liver function parameters (aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase & total protein) and histopathological indices (liver tissue) of alloxan- induced diabetic rats. Materials and methods: Fresh Cola pachycarpa and Cola lepidota fruits were obtained from local markets and home farms within communities in Isiala Mbano local government area of Imo State and Isiala Ngwa South local government area of Abia State. The fruits were processed into raw and undiluted fruit juice using an electric juicer. Forty healthy adult albino male rats with an average weight of 239.35g were randomized into eight groups, six experimental and two control groups, based on body weight. All the rats in each group were induced with alloxan to become diabetic. Samples of blood were collected for use as basal biochemical and hematological indices as well as after induction with diabetes. Standard diabetic drug, glibenclamide and Cola fruit juices (pachycarpa and lepidota) were administered differently and in varied concentrations (5ml/kg and 10ml/kg body weight). The experiment lasted for 21days after which the animals were sedated with mild anesthetic and sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The liver of the animals were excised, packaged, labeled and stored for subsequent chemical analysis and histopathology. Data was analyzed statistically using IBM-SPSS (Special Package for Social Sciences) version 20 software for means and standard deviation. Results: Monkey Cola fruit juices significantly (p < 0.05) decreased alkaline phosphatase (28.95%, CPV1, Group that received Cola pachycarpa very rough epicarp fruit juice at 5ml/kg body weight), aspartate transaminase (29.81%, CPV1) comparative to those of the standard diabetic drug (29.58% and 17.58% respectively). Histopathological studies indicated abnormal hepatocyte structure in only the untreated group of rats. Rats that received standard diabetic drug reported significant (p < 0.05) better liver architecture from other treatment groups, though damage to the liver was not noticed in rats that received the fruit juices. All the Cola juices especially those administered at 10mls/kg body weight impacted positively in improving body weight, haematological, biochemical and histopathological indices in diabetes control. Conclusion: Further research could be done to establish its prospect as an anti-diabetic agent.