ABSTRACT
In this study, the antidiabetic activities of the aqueous extracts of Veronia amygdalina
(VA) and Dacryodes edulis (DE) leaves and their combined extracts (VA+DE) were
examined. Thirty-six adult male Wistar rats were used in the study with 6 rats in each
group. Specifically, group 1 (normal control) rats were received only the vehicle. The
remaining groups (groups 2 to 6) were administered alloxan (150 mg/kg; i.p.) to induce
diabetes and thereafter treated as follows: Group 2 animals were left diabetic but
received only the vehicle (negative control), Group 3 were treated with metformin
(positive control) at 200 mg/kg body weight while groups 4, 5 and 6 received (p.o.)
300mg/kg of DE, VA and VA+DE, respectively for two weeks. Phenolic acids, tannins,
saponins, fixed fat and oil, and flavonoids were more visible in the VA extract while the
DE extract showed more alkaloids, proteins, phlobatannins. Administration of the
extracts and their combination or metformin to the diabetic rats resulted in significant
(p < 0.05) reductions in blood glucose, total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, low density
lipoprotein cholesterol and increase in high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels
compared to the negative control. Significant (p < 0.05) increase in serum total protein
and marked reduction in liver and kidney function indices were recorded in the extracts
(VA, DE, VA+DE) and the metformin treated diabetic rats in comparison to negative
control. The results of this study revealed that V. amygdalina and D. edulis contained
some biologically active compounds that may be efficacious in the management of
diabetes mellitus.
KEYWORDS:Antidiabetic potential, phytochemical screening, Vernonia
amygdalina, Dacryodes edulis, Metformin