Effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extract on serum lipids and glycaemic control in alloxan induced diabetic albino rats

Abstract

Objective: To determine the possible effects of aqeous extract of Moringa oleifera on blood glucose and lipid profile in alloxan induced diabetic albino rats. Materials and Methods: Forty four (44) adult healthy Albino rats of both sexes divided into three groups (A=23, B=10 and C=11)were used for this study; they were kept under standard conditions in the Animal House of the Department of Biomedical Sciences of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osogbo, Nigeria. Diabetes mellitus was induced in rats in groups A and B with 5-day of alloxan administered intraperitoneally. Only rats in group A were given aqueous extracts of Moringa oleifera for a period of nine days. Body weight and fasting blood glucose were checked at 5^th and 14^th day of the experiment. Parameters of lipid profile were determined in rats at day 14. Results: Average fasting blood sugar for groups A, B and C were observed to be 10.10mmol/l, 9.84mmol/l and 4.23mmol/l respectively at day 5. There was a reduction in fasting blood glucose in rats in groups A and C while there was an increase in fasting blood glucose in rats in group B when checked at day 14. Rats in group B (alloxan induced DM without Moringa oleifera supplement) had lowest value of HDL-Chol while their values of LDL-Chol, TC-Chol and Tg were the highest. There was significant lower value of HDL-Chol in group B than rats in Group A (p 0.05) and rats in group C (p 0,05). Conclusion: There was a hypoglycaemic effect of the aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera. It also has capacity to ameliorate dyslipidaemia in diabetic rats.