PHARMACOLOGICAL INTERACTION BETWEEN ETHANOL EXTRACT OF MORINGA OLEIFERA LEAVES AND METFORMIN IN ALLOXAN-INDUCED HYPERGLYCAEMIC WISTAR RATS

PHARMACOLOGICAL INTERACTION BETWEEN ETHANOL EXTRACT OF MORINGA OLEIFERA LEAVES AND METFORMIN IN ALLOXAN-INDUCED HYPERGLYCAEMIC WISTAR RATS

Abstract:

Herbs with anti-diabetic activity could initiate interactions if used concurrently with orthodox drugs. Moringa oleifera is one of such herbs usually taken as an adjunct to orthodox oral hypoglycaemic agents. This study investigated the possible pharmacological interaction between the ethanol extract of Moringa oleifera leaves (MOE) and metformin co-administered to hyperglycaemic Wistar rats and the effect of MOE on normoglycaemic rats. Hyperglycaemia was induced by administration of a single dose (150 mg/kg i.p) of alloxan. Rats having fasting blood glucose (FBG) ≥ 200 mg/dl after 72 h were considered hyperglycaemic. A dose-response study for MOE was carried out with 8 groups of hyperglycaemic rats which were administered 100, 200, 400, 800, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg MOE respectively. Blood glucose level was monitored hourly and a plot of percentage glycaemic reduction at 4h versus log dose was used to estimate the median effective dose (ED50), to be 750 mg/kg. Pharmacological interaction study was carried out for 28 days with 8 groups of hyperglycaemic rats. Group 1 served as control, groups 2, 3, and 4 received 375, 750 and 1500 mg/kg MOE corresponding to ½ ED50, ED50 and 2ED50 respectively. Groups 5, 6 and 7 received 375, 750 and 1500 mg/kg MOE but co-administered with metformin (150 mg/kg) while group 8 received metformin (150 mg/kg). For normoglycaemic rats, group 1 served as control while groups 2, 3 and 4 were administered 375, 750 and 1500 mg/kg MOE respectively. Parameters such as FBS, feed/water intake, body weight changes, lipid/protein profiles, electrolytes, creatinine and urea levels were measured in both hyperglycaemic and normoglycaemic rats. Relative organ weight (ROW) and histopathological examination of the pancreas, heart, brain, kidney, liver, lungs, spleen and stomach were also carried out. Results of the hyperglycaemic study, showed that 375mg/kg MOE significantly (p<0.05) reduced FBS on day 28, 750 and 1500 mg/kg,,

PHARMACOLOGICAL INTERACTION BETWEEN ETHANOL EXTRACT OF MORINGA OLEIFERA LEAVES AND METFORMIN IN ALLOXAN-INDUCED HYPERGLYCAEMIC WISTAR RATS

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