Anti-Lipidemic Effect of Combined Leaf Extracts of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> and <i>Peristrophe bicalyculata</i> in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

In this study, the anti-lipidemic effects of combined extracts of Moringa oleifera and Peristrophe bicalyculata in allxoan-induced diabetic rats were investigated. Fifty four (54) adult male albino Wistar rats weighing between 140-180 g were shared into 5 parallel groups consisting of diabetic (DC) and non-diabetic (NC) groups. Each group consisted of 6 rats. Groups 2-5 were made diabetic using alloxan (150 mg/kg b.w in distil H 2 O). Except for groups 1 and 2, animals were gavaged at doses of 500 mg/kg b.w for the single dose of extract and 250 mg/kg for the combine extract treatment. Insulin served as a standard drug and was administered at 5IU/kg b.w. The control animal groups (NC, DC) received 0.2 ml of normal saline (placebo) for fourteen (14) consecutive days. Groups treated with extracts showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) levels, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL mg/dl) concentrations in all treated groups compared to the diabetic control group. No significant (p > 0.05) change was observed in HDL-C level in treated groups when compared to the normal control, diabetic control and insulin groups, suggesting a potential protection against cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) by these plants. No reduction in body weight was observed within the experimental period of 14 days. The results obtained in this study are in agreement with several other research results with these plants and claims by ethno-medical practitioners on the use of Moringa oleifera and Peristrophe bicalyculata in the treatment of hypertension and related CVDs.