In vivo antioxidant and antihyperglycaemic properties of aqueous extract of herbal cocktail

Abstract

The antioxidant and antihyperglycamic effects of herbal cocktail namely: Vernonia amygdalina, Gongronema latifolium, Allium sativium, Ocimum gratissmun and Aloe barbadensis were studied on alloxan-induced diabetic rat. Twenty (20) albino Wistar rats were equally divided into five groups. Groups 1 and 2 served as normal and untreated Diabetic controls. Test groups 3, 4 and 5 were treated with 10mg/kg glibenclamide, 200mg and 400mg/kg of extract for 28 days. The result showed a dose dependant significant increase (P<0.05) in serum concentrations of vitamin C, glutathione and catalase activity in test groups when compared to untreated diabetic control. Similarly, the extract significantly reduced (P<0.05) glucose concentration of diabetic rats at both concentrations when compared to untreated diabetic Rats. The results confirmed the already established use of these plants in traditional medicine and equally established their useful synergistic effect in reducing blood sugar and in relieving oxidant stress.

Key words: Antioxidant, catalase, glutathione, alloxan, antihyperglycaemia