Effect of Vernonia Amygdalina Found on Alloxan Induced Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Vernonia amygdalina (VA) is a common shrub widely consumed in Nigeria. This study was done to investigate the effect of VA on alloxan induced hyperglycemia in Wister albino rats. Adult albino rats of Wister strain of both sexes weighing 200-250g were randomly allocated into 4 groups with five (5) rats per group. Group 1 was given normal saline without induction with alloxan to serve as the control while group 2, 3 and 4 were induced with alloxan 6.5mg/100gbody weight of alloxan monohydrate after the method of Osikwe et al., 2015. After induction of hyperglycemia, group 2 were given normal saline, group 3, 10mg/100g body weight of VA and group 4, 20mg/100g body weight of VA for a duration of 2 weeks. The result showed that the fasting blood glucose of group 1 was 81±2.8 mg/dl. The fasting blood glucose of group 2 was 242±8.3 vs295±9.5 mg/dl, group 3 was 304±3.8 vs 203±2.4 mg/dl and group 4 253±12.5 vs 247±22.9 mg/dl. There was a significant difference in basal blood sugar level after induction between group 2 and group 3, and between group 2 and 4 p<0.01. 10mg/100g of VA significantly reduced fasting blood glucose compared to diabetic control. There was also significant difference between group 2 and group 4 (p<0.05) however, there percentage change in fasting blood glucose after 10mg/100g VA and 20mg/100g of VA were 34.7% and 11.6% respectively. The fact that 20mg/100g VA exhibited 11.6% which was significantly less than 34.7% (p<0.01) showed that V.amygdalina exhibits saturation phenomenon.