Asian Journal of Research in Biology

Hyperglycemia, which is linked to decreased insulin production, peripheral sensitivity, and b-cell dysfunction, is a hallmark of diabetes mellitus (DM), a metabolic disease. This research aimed at investigating the antidiabetic potentials of a combination of Vernonia amygdalina and Zingiber officinale in diabetic Wistar rats. Extraction was done using maceration method. A total of thirty-five male Wistar rats weighing between 160g ± 10g were randomized into 5 groups of 7 rats each and used for the study. Group A was used as a normal control. Diabetes was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (130mg/kg) in groups B-E. Group B was left untreated, group C was treated with 100mg/kg gluformin while groups D and E were treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg bodyweight respectively of the combination of ethanol extract of V. amygdalina and Z. officinale. Ethanol extraction was done using maceration method. Fasting blood glucose concentrations were measured at three-day intervals for a period of two weeks using a One-Touch glucometer and test strips. Lipid profile and liver function parameters were determined using standard diagnostic methods. Ethanol extract of a combination of V. amygdalina and Z. officinale caused a significant (p<0.05) weight gain and significantly (p<0.05) reduced the alloxan-induced increases in fasting blood glucose. There was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein concentration, aspartate transaminase activity, alanine transaminase activity and alkaline phosphatase activity compared to the diabetic untreated. The results obtained suggest that the ethanol extract of a combination of V. amygdalina and Z. officinale can be considered as an alternative remedy for diabetes and a substitute for drugs in the treatment of diabetic conditions due to its pharmacological activity.