Effect of Combined Ethanol Leaf Extracts of Moringa oleifera and Gongronema latifolium on Body Weight and Blood Glucose Concentration of Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide-induced Diabetic Albino Rats

Abstract

Background: Diabetes is a major health challenge globally and it is on the increase as carbohydrate is the main food consumed by an average human. Up till now, no synthetic drug has been able to provide permanent cure for diabetes. Aim: This study investigated the effect of the combined ethanol leaf extracts of Moringa oleifera and Gongronema latifolium on body weight and blood glucose levels of streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced diabetic albino rats. Methods: Experimental diabetes was induced intraperitoneally with 65 mg/kg bodyweight of streptozotocin and 230 mg/kg bodyweight of nicotinamide. A total of 76 male albino rats were divided into eight groups of five rats each which were normal control, diabetic control and diabetics administered 500 mg/kg M. oleifera, 500mg/kg G. latifolium, 250 mg/kg M.oleifera+500 mg/kg G. latifolium, 500 mg/kg M. oleifera+250 mg/kg G. latifolium, 500 mg/kg M. oleifera + 500 mg/kg G. latifolium and 10 mg/kg bodyweight glibenclamide respectively.   Results: There was a significant (p≤0.05) reduction in blood glucose levels of the treated groups when compared with the diabetic control. A significant body weight gain was observed across the treated groups when compared with the diabetic untreated. Conclusion: Based on the results obtained, there is synergy in the anti-diabetic efficacies of Moringa oleifera and Gongronema latifolium.