Effects of Aqueous Extracts of Tetracarpidium Conophorum (Nuts) and Vernonia Amygdalina (Leaves) on Lipid Parameters of Alloxan Induced Diabetic Wistar Rats

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of combined treatment of aqueous extracts of Tetracarpidium conophorum (TCE) walnuts and Vernonia amygdalina (VAE) bitter leaves on lipid parameters in alloxan induced diabetic Wistar rats. Forty two (42) Wistar rats with weight range of 125-275g were grouped into 6 groups of 7 rats in each group. The first group served as the normal control while the remaining five groups were induced with diabetes using alloxan at 120 mg/kg body weight.  Group two served as diabetic control and the remaining groups were treated with 500 mg/kg TCE, 500 mg/kg VAE, combined extract of 500 mg/kg TCE and 500 mg/kg VAE and 7.69 mg/kg metformin respectively. The rats were treated orally once daily for 28 days. Three rats per group were sacrificed on the 14^th and 28^th day of treatment. The plasma levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL and LDL were measured. The result showed that there was a significant reduction (p<0.05) in the blood glucose level of all the treated groups compared to the diabetic control. There was a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the level of LDL, triglyceride, and cholesterol in all the treated groups compared to diabetic control. The plasma level of HDL showed no significant (p>0.05) difference. In conclusion, the combined aqueous extracts of Tetracarpidiumconophorum nuts and Vernonia amygdalina leaves reduced the levels of the lipid parameters when administered to diabetic rats at the dosage used in this study.