Abstract

EFFECT OF COMBINED AQUEOUS VERNONIA AMYGDALIN AND ZINGIBER OFFICINALE EXTRACTS ON THE LIVER AND KIDNEY OF ALLOXAN-INDUCED WISTAR RATS

*H. O. Asuzu-Samuel and Karibo Amakiri Okari

ABSTRACT

The liver and kidney play significant physiological roles in the body, any variation of these organs can effect change which could be detrimental to human health. The study examined the effect of combined aqueous extract of V. amygdalina and Z. officinale on glucose level and its effect on kidney and liver functions. Twenty five (25) female Wistar rats were used for the study. The animals were divided into five groups, normal control group which were given only distilled water and feed, the other four groups were induced with alloxan. The diabetic control group were induced with diabetes and not treated, while the ginger group that were induced with diabetes and treated with ginger only. The bitter leaf group which were induced with diabetes mellitus and treated with bitter leaf only and the combined group which were induce and treated with the combined aqueous extract of V. amygdalina and Z. officinale for 14 days. The result shows that the combined leaf extract of V. amygdalina and Z. officinale did not decreased glucose level of diabetic rat. But the extracts when used separately showed significant decreased in bloodglucose level. When compared to control there was significant difference. More so, the histologic of both kidney and liver showed tubular distortions and occlusions, obliterated glomerular, as well as vascular inflammation from the alloxan-induced control. While the treatment with bitter leaf and ginger extract showed little improvement in repairing the vascular inflammatory value. Hence, the both extracts have hepatoprotective properties as well as healing power for kidney. This study conclude the combination of both bitter leaf and ginger possesses significantly renal and liver protect on alloxan-induced rats, as well as overcome most of the histopathological changes in liver and kidney tissues, the majority of the cells tend to be normal. It therefore, recommended that dietary bitter leaf and ginger or their mixture could be excellent adjuvant support in kidney lesion and occlusion as well as liver hepatocellular inflammation and prevent its complications.

Keywords: Aqueous, Vernonia Amygdalin, Zingiber Officinale, Liver and Kidney.