Abstract:
This study was designed to investigate the effect of methanol leaf extract of Vernonia
amygdalina on the kidney and liver functions of Streptozotocin induced diabetic wistar rats.
Twenty-five healthy, young adult male rats (115-220g) were divided into five groups of five
rats each. Group 1 (Normal control) received water and feed, groups 2, 3, 4, and 5 received
Streptozotocin (45mg/kg) by inter-peritoneal injection to induce diabetes. Group 3 rats were
administered with metformin for seven (7) days, and the rats in group 4 were administered
with 150mg/kg of Vernonia amygdalina methanol leaf extract seven (7) days, while the rats
in group 5 were administered with 300mg/kg of Vernonia amygdalina methanol leaf extract
for seven (7) days. The body weight and fasting blood glucose of animals were taken at Day
1, day 4 and Day 11 before they were sacrificed and the organs were weighed and obtained
for biochemical assay analysis. The results suggested that Vernonia amygdalina methanol
leaf extract caused a significant decrease in FBG levels of Groups 4 and 5 animals, and
Metformin caused a low amount of decrease in Group 3 animals. Vernonia amygdalina
methanol leaf extract also caused a significant increase in weight of Groups 4 and 5 animals
as compared to Groups 3 and 2. Relative liver and kidney weights were decreased as
compared to that of the control.
In conclusion, the effect of Vernonia amygdalina methanol leaf extract shown in the present
study implies a pharmaco-therapeutic and protective role in liver and kidney functions in
Streptozotocin induced diabetic wistar rats. The results of the phyto-chemical screening
showed the presence of some basic phyto-chemical components in Vernonia amygdalina.
The GCMS analysis displayed hexa-decanoic acid, methyl ester, cis-13Octadecenoic acid,
methyl ester, 9, 12 Octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z), and Phytol as the organic components with
the highest percentages.
