Effects of aqueous extracts of Azadirachta indica and Momordica charantia leaves on alloxaninduced diabetic rats S. O. Rotimi1*, O. A.

Rotimi2 and O. E. Omotosho1

1 2

Biochemistry Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, Covenant University, Ota and Department of Biochemistry, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria.

*Corresponding author: e-mail: boluwaduro64112@yahoo.com Abstract The usefulness of aqueous extracts of Azadirachta indica and Momordica charantia compared with glibenclamide in managing experimental model of type I diabetes was investigated. 5ml/kg body weight of the extracts and 0.45mg/kg body weight of glibeclamide was administered to the diabetic rats for 30days. Thereafter, plasma concentrations of glucose, bicarbonate, triacylglycerols, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, thiobaribituric acid reactive substances as well as superoxide dismutase activity were assayed spectrophotometrically. Treatment of the diabetic rats with the extracts significantly (p<0.05) reduced the plasma glucose concentration but did not as much as glibenclamide did. However, there was no significant (p>0.05) difference between the influence of the extracts and glibenclamide on plasma lipid profile as indicated by the reduction in triacyglycerol level and total cholesterol: HDL cholesterol ratio. The extracts also significantly (p<0.05) reversed the increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances level and decrease in superoxide dismutase activity to a level not significantly (p>0.05) different from glibenclamide. A similar reduction was also observed in the level of bicarbonate. The results presented in this work suggest the potential of the aqueous extracts of A, indica and M. charantia as alternative therapies in managing diabetes.