Effects of Vernonia amygdalina on Biochemical and Hematological Parameters in Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Subacute toxicity studies were carried out on the fraction of the methanol leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina in diabetic rats. Nine fractions (F1-F9) were obtained from the MEOH leaf extract of V. amygdalina and screened for antihyperglycemic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The most potent hypoglycemic fraction (F6) was administered daily to normal and diabetic rats for 28 days at doses of 80, 160 and 320 mg/kg. Blood glucose level, body weight, food and liquid intake, and some biochemical and hematological indices were monitored over the treatment period. At these doses, fraction F6 significantly (p<0.05) increased food intake and body weight and decreased water intake in the diabetic rats. The fraction significantly (p<0.01) decreased the levels of triglycerides, l ow density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and increased high density lipoprotein cholesterol level in the diabetic rats. Treatment with fraction F6 (160 and 320 mg/kg) significantly (p<0.05) increased the lymphocyte count and elect rolytes level s bu t lowered the levels of urea and creatinine. The elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosp hatase in the diabetic rat s were significantly (p<0. 01) lowered. The histopathological studies revealed no significant abnormalities in the vital organs in both F6 and chlorpropamide treated rats. These results suggest that fraction F 6 of V. amygdalina is a potent hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic agent which is safe and capable of normalizing biochemical and hematological abnormalities associated with the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus.