(Mrs.) K.E. Imafidon

This study was conducted to investigate the acute toxicity, blood glucose concentration and the anti-diabetic effect of methanol extract of Moringa oleifera in streptozotocin- induced diabetes mellitus on Liver integrity in Sprague-Dawley rats. Acute toxicity was carried out in two phases using different doses of Moringa oleifera leaves extract. There was no mortality recorded in both phases. A total of twenty-five Sprague-dawley rats divided into five groups of five animals each were used for the experiment. All animals were allowed unlimited access to feed and water. Group 1 served as control and receieved normal feed and water. Animals in groups 2,3,4 & 5 were induced with diabetes mellitus using 55mg/kg body weight streptozotocin. Animals in group 2 were treated with standard drug glibenclamide (5mg/kg bwt) once daily for 21 days. In addition, animals in groups 3,4 &5 were treated with graded doses of Moringa oleifera leaves extract (100mg/kg bwt, 200mg/kg bwt and 300mg/kg bwt) respectively. Blood glucose level was checked weekly for three weeks. On day 22, all the animals were sacrificed and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) were analyzed. Results obtained showed that there was a significant (P<0.05) decrease in ALT and MDA level. Also there was a significant (P<0.05) decrease in AST in 250mg/kg bwt and 300mg/kg bwt. There was a significant increase in AST in groups treated with 100mg/kg bwt and 200mg/kg bwt this maybe as a result of the low doses of the Moringa oleifera leaves extract used in their treatment. 300mg/kg bwt maybe the safest and best dose to use for medicinal purposes. All the animals treated with methanol extract of Moringa oleifera showed a significant (P <0.05) decrease in blood glucose concentration. The animals treated with glibenclamide maintained a significant high blood glucose concentration, there was no reduction in blood glucose concentration in this group when compared with control group after treatment for 21 days. Methanol extract of Moringa oleifera leaves has an anti-diabetic effect and also liver protective effect because of the antioxidant and phytochemical compounds it
contains.