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ANTIDIABETIC EFFECT OF COMBINED AQUEOUS LEAF EXTRACT OF VERNONIA
AMYGDALINA AND METFORMIN IN RATS
Adikwu Michael U1, Uzuegbu David B1,
Okoye Theophine C2*, Uzor Philip F3, Adibe Maxwell
Ogochukwu4*, and Amadi Benson V1
1Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
2Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
3Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Enugu State,Nigeria
4Department of clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, Faculty of
Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, 410001, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
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Date of Web Publication
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15-Aug-2010
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*Corresponding Authors: E-mail: maxolpharmacia@yahoo.com,
theokubs@yahoo.com
 ABSTRACT
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This study investigated the antidiabetic activity of the various combinations (ratios)
of metformin (50 mg/kg) and aqueous extracts of the leaves of Vernonia amygdalina
(100 mg/kg). The ratios of Extract to Metformin were 1: 1, 2: 1, and 2: 1 and distilled
water (control, p.o.) were given to both normoglycemic and alloxan-induced diabetic
Wister albino rats. Blood was withdrawn and tested at 0, 1, 3 and 6 hours. Results
showed that the combinations of the extract and metformin caused more reduction
in glycemia compared to any of the agents acting alone in either of the two categories
of animals. The ratio of 1:2 caused the most significant (p<0.05) reduction in
blood sugar (-66.07%) compared to distilled water (-7.2%). However,
the ratio of metformin: extract (2: 1) caused a reduction of -62.66% but
was found a better combination considering the safety of the drugs. The combination
of Vernonia amygdalina with metformin for the management of diabetes should
be highly encouraged with a reduction in the dose of metformin and an increase in
the dose of the plant extract to guarantee efficacy and safety.
KEYWORDS: Antidiabetic drug, fasting blood sugar, Metformin, Vernonia amygdalina
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