Effect of Aqueous Extract of Vernonia Amygdalina (Bitter Leaf) and Ocimum Gratissimum (Scent Leaf) on the Blood Sugar Level Using Alloxan Diabetic Induced Wistar Rat

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the antidiabetic potential of aqueous extracts of Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) and Ocimum gratissimum (scent leaf) in alloxan-induced diabetic  Wistar rats. Twenty (20) adult  Wistar rats were used for this study. For the first week all the  wistar rats were left to acclimatize, given no drugs, only water and their feed. After acclimatization they were weighed, labelled with marks and their cages were also labelled. They were injected with alloxan so as to induce diabetes mellitus, thereby raising blood glucose level. The wistar rats were divided into five (5) groups, with four (4) wistar rats in each group namely; Group 1 (positive control- which received no drug administration, just distilled water and feed, Group 2 (negative control)- Received no aqueous extract treatment but was administered with alloxan, so they are not expected to produce any positive result and can be used as the baseline. Group 3- VernoniaAmygdalina extract (bitter-leaf) only (10ml per kg of body weight). Group 4- OcimumGratissimum extract (scent-leaf) only (10ml per kg of body weight). Group 5- Administered both bitter leaf and scent leaf extract (10ml per kg of body weight). Extract of bitter leaf and scent leaf was also administered according to their body weight (10ml per kg), such that animal weighing 250g, 200g, 150g received 2.5ml, 2.00ml and 1.50ml per kilogram of body weight respectively. It was administered orally using oral cannula. Blood samples were collected from the wistar rats before and after the administration of alloxan and two days after every administration of the extract of bitter leaf and scent leaf so as to check the blood glucose level. Data obtained were analyzed  using SPSS format, all data were collected and organized in a format that SPSS can read and process.  One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were  used for additional tests.  difference between the means of two or more independent groups. the results with p<0.05 Considered significantly. This present study showed that Vernonia amygdalina( bitter leaf)  and Ocimum gratissimum (scent leaf) extracts exhibited a synergistic effect, producing a greater reduction in blood glucose levels compared to either extract alone.