Antidiabetic Activity of the Synergistic Effect of Methanol Extracts of Vernonia amygdalina and Allium Ascalonicum in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats.

Abstract

The quest for novel anti-diabetic medication from medicinal plants is indispensable since they contain bioactive phytochemicals that offer better activity. In this study, effect of the individual and synergistic ant-diabetic potentials of Vernonia amygdalina and Allium ascalonicum were determined in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screenings were carried out using standard methods. Acute toxicity (LD50) of extracts was determined by Lorke’s Method. Diabetes was induced using 200mg/kgbw of alloxan monohydrate while treatment was administered in doses 200 mg/kgbw and 400 mg/kgbw for single and combined extracts in these percentages :75 vs 25 %,50 vs 50 % and 100 %. In vivo antioxidant activity was carried out following standard procedures. In vivo antiinflammatory activity was performed according to Ekpendu et al., method. Histopathological examination was carried out by adopting the method of Arsad et al., while characterization of the active compounds was analyzed by FTIR and GCMS. The results of the qualitative Phyto-composition showed the presence of important phytonutrients such as alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and phenols while quantitative Phyto-composition showed that phenols was most prominent (113mg/100g) in Allium ascalonicum and Alkaloids (99mg/100g) in Vernonia amygdalina. The LD50 of the single and combined fractions were all save above 5000mg/kgbw. All the extract treated groups exhibited some hypoglycemic activities in dose dependent manner. However, the combined extracts (AA) 75% Allium ascalonicum vs 25 % Vernonia amygdalina had the highest (60.29%) percentage glucose reduction at 400mg/kgbw and was selected as the most active extract. AA had Percentage paw oedema inhibition (46.89%) and a significant increase (P <0.005) on the antioxidant enzymes activities when compared to the negative control. The histology of the hepatocellular architecture was well preserved with no abnormalities. This study suggested that combined extract AA has hypoglycemic potentials which could be further studied.