The Hypoglycemic and Hypolipidemic Effects of the Aqueous Extract of Vernonia Amygdalina Leaves on Alloxan Induced Diabetic Albino Rats

Author(s): L. J Goje, Maisamari C.A, F.U Maigari, P.E Ghamba, A.D.T. Goji, P.P Mshelia

The study was conducted to determine the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of the aqueous extract of vernonia amygdalina leaves extract. Healthy albino rats weighing between 200g and 230g were used. The rats were divided in to four different groups each containing five albino rats respectively. Three of the groups (b, c and d) were induced with diabetes by the administration of alloxan monohydrate at a concentration of 150mg/kg through intraperitoneal injection. The fasting blood glucose of the rats and their weights were measured before and after the induction of diabetes using glucose metre. After the induction of diabetes the rats were treated using the aqueous extract of vernonia amygdalina leaves at different concentrations (100, 150 and 200mg/kg) respectively according to group daily, where as, the other group (a) was not given any treatment and this served as the normal control, providing a baseline data. The experiment lasted for two weeks after which the animals were sacrificed by surgical dislocation of the neck following 16 hours fasting. The serum was obtained and used for the analysis of lipid profile and fasting blood glucose. All the treatment groups showed a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose level (p<0.05) when compared with their respective alloxan induced diabetic values. Also, all the treatment groups did not have significantly different values from the normal control (p>0.05) in the case of the parameters of lipid profile. Therefore, it was concluded that the aqueous extract of vernonia amygdalina leaves had both hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects on alloxan induced diabetes.

Vernonia amygdalina, alloxan induced diabetes, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic

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