Effects of Aqueous Extract of Moringa ole ifera Seeds on Alloxan Induced Hyperglycemia

Abstract

This study examines the effect of aqueous extract of MoringaOleifera seeds on alloxan induced mild and severe hyperglycemia relative to its route of administration. The animals were divided into six groups (n = 6). Group I animals received only rat chow and water (served as control group). Group II animals received only alloxan and were not treated (served as Hyperglycemic group), Group III received alloxan and after three hours were treated with 400mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of moringaoleifera seed orally (served as mild hyperglycemic group A), Group IV received alloxan and after three hours were treated with 400mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of moringaoleifera seed intraperitoneally (served as mild hyperglycemic group B). Group V received alloxan and after two days, began receiving treatment with 400mg/kg body weight aqueous extract of moringaoleifera seed orally for two weeks (served as severe hyperglycemic group A). Group VI received alloxan and after two days, began receiving treatment with 400mg/kg body weight aqueous extract of moringaoleifera seed intraperitoneally for two weeks (served as severe hyperglycemic group B). The result of the study showed a significant decrease in the blood glucose level after six hours and also after fourteen days of both oral and intraperitoneal treatment of the mild hyperglycemia with moringaoleiferaseed extract. Also there was a 48.6% and 42.8% decrease in the blood glucose level of the mildly hyperglycemic rats on treatment with both oral and intraperitoneal moringaoleifera seed extracts and a 69.7% and 89.6% decrease in the blood glucose level of the severely hyperglycemic rats on treatment with both oral and intraperitoneal moringaoleifera seed extracts respectively. The study shows that Moringa oleifera seed extract exhibited a hypoglycemic effect on both the mild and severe alloxan induced hyperglycemic rats.