Role of Vernonia Amygdalina on Plasma Lipid Profile, Liver and Kidney Enzymes in Rats with Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a non-communicable disease which has been associated with liver and kidney injuries, and at the same time affects lipid profiles. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Vernonia amygdalina (VAM) on plasma lipid profile, liver and kidney enzymes in rats with streptozotocin -induced diabetes. Twenty-five male albino wistar rats weighing between 137 and 223 g were randomly grouped into five of five rats per group as follows: control, diabetic, diabetic + metformin (MET), diabetic + VAM at 150, 300 mg/kg. Diabetes was induced by administration of 45 mg/kg body weight streptozotocin (STZ) dissolved in citrate buffer (0.01 M, pH 4.5) by single intraperitoneal injection. Three days after, when diabetes was confirmed, MET and VAM were administered daily by oral gavage for 7 days. Animals were fasted overnight after the last administration of MET and VAM, sacrificed, blood was collected and plasma prepared for lipid profile estimation. Liver and kidney were collected, weighed, homogenized and supernatants obtained for enzymes and biochemical assays. There were no significant (p>0.05) change in the weights of animal, liver and kidney, liver/rat and kidney/rat ratios, plasma cholesterol (CHOL) concentration, activities of liver and kidney aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), liver gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and liver and kidney total protein (TPRO) concentrations; significant (p<0.05) decrease in triglyceride (TRIG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL), very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL); and significant (p<0.05) increase in fasting blood glucose (FBG) level, kidney GGT, LDH activities, liver and kidney creatinine (CREA) and total bilirubin (TBIL) concentrations of diabetic (STZ) rats compared with normal control. The treatment of the diabetic rats with MET and VAM significantly modulated positively these parameters compared with the diabetic rats. This study further explains the protective role played by VAM in dyslipidaemia, liver and kidney injuries resulting from diabetes.