Comparative Study on the Effect of Aqueous Extract of Moringa Oleifera and Vernonia Amygdalina Leaves on Some Biochemical Indices of Male Wistar Rats

Metabolic disturbances are sometimes due to alterations in some biochemical parameters and thereby become an indicator for the assessment of metabolic syndrome. The present study evaluates the comparative effects of aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera and Vernonia amygdalina on some biochemical indices in male adult Wister rats. Thirty-two adult male Wister rats of average weight of 152 g. Rats were randomly assigned into four groups of eight each. Group one served as the control and each rat in this group received 2ml of distilled water orally and daily. Groups two and three received 2.5 g/ml of M. oleifera and V. amygdalina per body weight orally and daily. Group four received 2.5g/ml of M. oleifera with 2.5g of V. amygdalina per body weight orally and daily. Administration of the extract was done for 28 days. All the animals were sacrificed on the 29th day by jugular puncture; part of their blood was collected into plain bottle and spun to obtain serum, and part into EDTA bottle for other analyses. It was observed that a significant increase in total protein was recorded for the group administered V. amygdalina and the combination of M. oleifera with V. amygdalina. A significant increase (p < 0.05) in globulin concentration was observed in the group administered only V. amygdalina as well as the group administered the combination. M. oleifera increased serum albumin compared to V. amygdalina and the combination, but decreased the serum bilirubin and creatinine concentration relative to V. amygdalina and the combination. A significant increase (p < 0.05) in urea level was observed in the group administered the combination of M. oleifera and V. amygdalina and the group administered only M. oleifera when compared to the control value. It is therefore inferred that, aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera and Vernonia amygdalina has effects on biochemical indices of rats and can be exploited for adjustment purposes when imbalances in these biochemical indices exist and for monitoring some metabolic disturbances.