Evaluation of the Ameliorative Property of Vernonia amygdalina Fractions in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetes

Medicinal plants play a major role in the management of Diabetes mellitus especially in developing countries.

Aims: The present study examines the bioactive constituents of Vernonia amygdalina and the effect of extract and fractions of Vernonia amygdalina on some biochemical indicators and antioxidant level in Diabetes mellitus management in Wistar rats.

Study Design: Multi-arm pre-post interventional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Physiology, faculty of basic medical sciences, Delta state university, Abraka. The study lasted for 28 days.

Methodology: The fresh Vernonia leaves were air-dried, crushed and soaked in ethanol for 48 hours after which the ethanolic extract was sieved out and allowed to dry. The resultant ethanol-free juice was subjected to liquid-liquid fractionation using solvents of varying polarity. The rats were divided into 7 groups (n=5) as follows, non-diabetic group, diabetic groups (crude, chloroform, ethyl acetate, Benzene and Butanol) received 300 mg/kg Vernonia amygdalina extract and the Metformin group received 50 mg/kg metformin.

Results: Administration of Crude ethanolic leaf extracts of Vernonia amygdalina at dose of 300 mg/kg/day produce maximum fall (81.45%) in the fasting glucose level in diabetic rats and decreased aspartate aminotransferase (11%), alanine aminotransferase (82), alkaline phosphatase (21%), Bilirubin levels and triglycerides and low density lipoprptein-cholesterol (17%), while increasing the levels of serum proteins (69%) in the diabetic Wistar rats after 28 days of treatment. Administration of the fractions at 300 mg/kg/day produce a decrease in the fasting glucose level in diabetic rats, Chloroform (65.85%), ethyl acetete (69.65%), Benzene (45.59%) and Butanol (37.31%) respectively and decreased aspartate aminotransferase (11-66%), alanine aminotransferase (77-86%), alkaline phosphatase (60.75%), Bilirubin levels in the diabetic Wistar rats after 28 days of treatment.

Conclusion: The finding showed that Vernonia amygdalina extract and fractions reduced the hyperglycaemia induced by streptozotocin in Wistar rats. It possesses significant antioxidant properties and ameliorated the toxic effect of Diabetes mellitus as evident by its effect of biochemical indicators. It also contains bioactive compounds with potent antidiabetic properties.