Amerliorative Effect of Vernonia Amygdalina in Dexamethasone Induced Hyperglycaemia

Abstract

Hyperglycaemia has been found to be one of the main side effects associated with dexamethasone administration. Vernonia amygdalina(VA)-bitter leave is a common shrub consumed in Nigeria. This study was carried out to investigate the ameliorative effect of vernonia amygdalina on dexamethasone induced hyperglycaemia. Twenty (20) adult Wistar albino rats of both sexes weighing  200-250g were randomly allocated into four (4) groups with five (5)animals per group. Group 1 was given normal saline without inducing hyperglycaemia in the group to serve as normoglycaemic control. Animals in group 2, group 3 and group 4 were given prestandardised dose of 1mg/kg body weight dexamethasone for seven days according to the method of Ghaisas et al., 2009. After induction of hyperglycemia, group 2 were given a daily dose of 1mg/kg body weight of dexamethasone with normal saline, group 3., daily dose of 1mg/kg body weight of dexamethasone with 100mg/kg body weight of VA and group 4 daily dose of 1mg/kg body weight of dexamethasone with 200mg/kg body weight of VA. The result showed that the fasting blood glucose of group 1 was 81±2.8 mg/dl. The fast blood glucose of group 2 was 137±15.4 vs 156±20.3mg/dl, group 3 was 129±9.7vs 90±2.7mg/dl and group 4 was 126±7.3 vs 86±4.2mg/dl. There was a significant difference in the fasting blood glucose of group 1compared to group 2, group 3 and group 4 (p<0.01) after induction of hyperglycaemia (p<0.01). There was no significant difference between group 1 and group3, group1 and group 4(p>0.05) after VA was co administered with dexamethasone. This shows that Vernonia amygdalina ameliorate dexamethasone induced hyperglycaemia.