Hypoglycemic potential of combined ethanol extracts of gongronema latifolia and vernonia amygdalina leaf in alloxan-induced diabetic albino wistar rats

The effect of Gongronema latifolia (GL) and Vernonia amygdalina (VA) leaf extracts on glucose level in alloxan-induced diabetic rats was studied.Sixty albino rats (170g-200g) were divided into twelve groups with five animals per group.Group 1 and 12 served as normal and diabetic controls respectively.Groups 2, 3 and 4 were normal rats and received 150mg/kg of GL, VA and combined 100mg/kg each of GL and VA respectively.Groups 5, 6 and 7 were treated as Groups 2, 3 and 4 respectively before diabetes induction.Groups 8, 9 and 10 were treated as Groups 2, 3 and 4 respectively while Group 11 was treated with insulin after diabetes induction.Extract administration lasted for 14 days.Glucose level was significantly (P < 0.01) lowered in normal and post-diabetic treated rats as well as Groups 5 and 6.Combine extract of Gongronema latifolia and Vernonia amygdalina have good glucose lowering potential.