Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the hepato-protective properties of combined extracts of Moringa oleifera (MO) and Vernonia amygdalina (VA) in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic albino Wistar rats. The study design involved 42 rats weighing 120 to 180 g which were divided into 7 groups of 6 rats each. Groups 1 and 2 representing normal and diabetic control (NC and DC) received 0.5 ml of dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO). Group 3 received 5 IU/kg body weight insulin intraperitoneally and group 4 received 5 mg/kg body weight  glibenclamide (GB) orally; groups 5 and 6 received 500 mg/kg body weight of MO and VA, respectively while group 7 the combined treatment group received 250 mg/kg body weight of each extract. After 28 days of treatment, the animals were anaesthetized and sacrificed to obtain blood by cardiac puncture. Serum was collected and assayed for alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferases (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein (TP) and albumin. The results showed that ALT, AST and ALP levels of the treatment groups decreased significantly (P<0.05) when compared with NC and DC, but were higher than reference drugs. The combined extract significantly (P<0.05) decreased the blood glucose sugar level, and this action compared favourably with the results obtained with the standard drugs. There was a significant increase (P<0.05) in TP and albumin levels of the treatment groups when compared with DC. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) showed significant decrease (P<0.05) in all treated groups compared to NC and DC. Moreover, the body weight change for the treatment groups showed a progressive decrease (P<0.05) except for groups treated with VA and MO when compared with NC. The results thus, show that single and combined extracts of MO and VA has hepatoprotective effects and may be safer in preventing diabetes induced damage to the liver.

Key words: Diabetes mellitus, liver enzymes, lipid profile, hepatoprotective,Moringa oleifera, Vernonia amygdalina.