ANTI-DIABETIC ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS SEED EXTRACT OF (MORINGA OLEIFERA) IN NORMAL AND ALLOXAN -INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

¹Rafiu, A. A. and ²Luka, C.D.

¹Department of Quality, Nasco Foods limited, Jos

²Department of Biochemistry, University of Jos, Plateau, Nigeria

E-mail: carrll42@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The present study was carried out to investigate the anti-diabetic activity of aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera seed in both normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats. Alloxan-induced diabetic rats (150mg/kg) were administered orally with Moringa oleifera seed aqueous extract (200 mg/kg) for twenty eight days after which the blood glucose, lipid profile, haematological parameters, protein and albumin in the serum were measured and compared with the control. There was a significant (p<0.05) increase in the level of blood glucose, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, triglyceride, eosinophil and a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the level of PCV, Hb, WBC, PLT, NEUT, protein, albumin and body weight. Oral administration of aqueous extract of M. oleifera at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight for 28 days to diabetic rats resulted in significant (p<0.05) reduction in blood glucose, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein and triglyceride and significant (p<0.05) increase in body weight, high density lipoprotein, protein and albumin. These results suggested that the aqueous seed extract of M. oleifera possesses anti-hyperglycaemic, anti-hyperlipideamic activity and also improved the aberrations in the blood parameters of alloxan-induced diabetic rat.