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The Effect of Drying Conditions on the Antidiabetic Activity of the Ethanolic Leaf Extract OFof <i>Vernonia Amygdalina</i>


UE Osonwa
GE Essien
IE Udoh
UF Umoh
EI Etim

Abstract

Ethanolic extracts of the leaves of Vernonia amygdalina were obtained by maceration from the freshly -harvested leaves, leaves dried in the shade, and leaves dried at 40 °C in the hot air oven. Solvent removal was achieved with the aid of a rotary evaporator. White albino rats of both sexes weighing 90-145 g were used. Diabetes was induced with alloxan given i.p. at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight. The animals were randomized into 8 groups of 5 animals per group. After a 12 hr overnight fast, each group treated as follows: group 1 received 50 mg/kg of fresh leaves extract; group 2 received 50 mg/kg of shade-dried leaves extract; group 3 received 50 mg/kg of oven-dried leaves extract; group 4 received 100 mg/kg of fresh leaves extract; group 5 received 100 mg/kg of shade-dried leaves extract; group 6 received 100 mg/kg of oven-dried leaves extract; group received Glibenclamide 10 mg/kg while group 8 received 2 ml/kg distilled water. Fresh blood obtained from the rat tail vein was analyzed for blood glucose level at 0, 1,2,4,6,8,12 and 24 hr from the time of administration with a glucometer. Free access to both food and water was allowed immediately after drug administration. Analysis of variance of the results was carried out with Microsoft SPSS® software at a 5 % level of significance. The results show that at 50 mg/kg dose of extract, the hypoglycemic activities were in the order: shade-dried leaves extract > fresh leaves extract> glibenclamide (10 mg/kg)> oven-dried leaves extract > water. The hypoglycemic effects of the leaves extracts were significant up till 6 hr; thereafter the blood glucose started rising again. Hypoglycemic activity significantly (p<0.05) increased with increase in extract dose. Thus, the shade-dried leaves extract was more effective weight for weight than either the oven-dried or fresh leaves extracts as an antidiabetic agent when compared weight per weight.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Vernonia amygdalina, drying conditions, blood glucose-lowering

Nigerian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Vol. 8 No 1 pp. 12 - 18

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eISSN: 2635-3555
print ISSN: 0189-8434