Compromise of the hypoglycaemic effect of chlorpropamide by the co-administration of <i>Vernonia amygdalina</i> (Compositae) aqueous extract

Abstract

Most diabetes mellitus patients practice self-administration of herbal products along with their conventional drugs without the knowledge of their physicians. Vernonia amygdalina is widely used for its therapeutic and nutritional purposes have been reported to have appreciable hyperglycaemic activity. This study evaluated the biological implication of co-administration of V. amygdalina (aqueous extract) with chlorpropamide an oral hypoglycaemic agents using alloxan induced animal model. Body weight (BW) and blood glucose level (BGL) of the animals was monitored during the study while haematological, biochemical and histopathological evaluations were determined at the end of the study using standard methods. Significant increase in BW and reduction in BGL was observed in all the treated groups when compared with diabetic control by day 21 (p<0.05), although the rate of blood glucose was slow with the co-administration. Reduction in the mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH), serum total protein and albumin (p= 0.024), while serum urea, total cholesterol and creatinine levels were increased in the co-administration when compared with the extract and chlorpropamide alone. Severe wide spread of vacuolar degeneration and moderate polymorphonuclear cell degeneration of the liver and vacuolar congestion of the cortex medulla of the kidney was observed with the co-administration. The outcome of this study revealed that coadministration of V. amygdalina and chlorpropamide does not have any overall beneficial effect as it subject to compromise of the hypoglycaemic effect as well as possible complication of the disease condition.

Keywords: V. amygdalina, Chlorpropamide, Co-Administration, Hypoglycaemic effect; Compositae