Anti-hyperglycaemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effect of aqueous leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina in Wistar rats

Diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic disorder characterised by impaired glucose tolerance and hyperglycemia, which is caused by either lack of or resistance to insulin in tissues; this disease causes significant morbidity and mortality largely due to its end–organ complications. Traditional treatment of diabetes mellitus has involved the use of several plant extracts; in this study the efficacy of aqueous leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina (VA) was sought as a treatment module for alloxan induced diabetic rats. The aqueous leaf extract of VA was administered in three (3) different doses (40, 80 and 120 mg/kg) to non-diabetic and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The body weights of the experimental animals were taken along with blood samples collection at baseline, on 7th, 14th and 21st days, thereafter the blood glucose and serum lipid levels were determined. The aqueous leaf extract of VA showed statistical significant (p< 0.05) reduction of blood glucose, serum triglyceride and cholesterol, as well as body weight in both non-diabetic and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. This study showed that aqueous leaf extract of VA administered at different doses contains anti-hyperglycemic and lipid lowering activities, with 80 mg/kg body weight dosage appearing to be the minimum effective dose; suggesting that aqueous leaf extract of VA is likely to contain actives that could be important in the control of blood glucose and serum lipid levels in diabetics. Key words: Vernonia amygdalina, diabetes mellitus, blood glucose, anti-hyperglycaemic, anti-hyperlipidemic.