SSESSMENT OF BIOCHEMICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN DIABETIC WISTAR RATS CO-ADMINISTERED ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF MORINGA OLEIFERA AND METFORMIN
As diabetes progresses, organ damage ensues. This study investigated the modulatory effect of co-administration of ethanolic leaf extract of Moringa oleifera (MOE) and metformin on biochemical parameters and histopathology of some organs of hyperglycaemic rats. Diabetes was induced by injection of 150 mg Alloxan/ kg body weight intraperitoneally to rats. Eight (8) groups of diabetic rats and one (1) group of normoglycaemic rats (n = 6) were used for the study. Groups I and II served as normoglycaemic and diabetic controls respectively and were administered1ml distilled water throughout the experiment. Groups III, IV and V received 375, 750 and 1500 mg MOE /kg respectively, groups VI, VII and VIII received the same doses of MOE respectively but co-administered with a fixed dose of metformin (150 mg/kg), group IX received metformin (150 mg/kg) alone. After 28 days of treatment, rats were sacrificed with blood samples and organs collected for analysis. Results showed that alloxan treatment produced an elevation in the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, (Tbil), electrolytes (Na + , Cl -, HCO3 + and K + ), creatinine and urea levels. MOE treatment produced a dose-dependent decrease in all the parameters monitored except Na + , HCO3 + and K + ions which were elevated. MOE/Metformin co-administration at all doses produced significant (p<0.001) reduction in all the parameters monitored, significant (p<0.001) increase in chloride ions. MOE/Metformin co-administration produced significant (p< 0.001), (p<0.05) increase in the weights of liver and spleen respectively when compared to the diabetic control. Histopathological studies of all treated groups showed beta-cell regeneration of the pancreas while the, brain, liver, kidney and spleens showed no remarkable changes in all groups. It was concluded that co-administration of metformin and ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves could be effective in restoring the functional and structural integrity of organs affected in diabetic condition