HYPOGLYCEMIC AND HYPOLIPIDEMIC ACTIVITY OF MORINGA OLEIFERA LEAF POWDER IN ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC RABBITS

The present study was carried out to investigate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect of Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MO) in alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits by administering oral doses (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight). Diabetes was induced intravenously into rabbits with a single dose of alloxan (150 mg/kg). Diabetic rabbits were treated with MO (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) and Glibenclamide (5 mg/kg/day). To determine fasting blood glucose, blood was drawn on days 1, 7, and 14, while it was drawn on day 14 for the determination of lipids, and relative body weight was measured at days 0 and 14. After 2 weeks of treatment, the fasting blood glucose levels of the MO-fed groups were significantly lower when compared with the diabetes mellitus (DM) group (P < 0.05), and the results were compared with standard Glibenclamide drug. Treatment with the MO also resulted in a significant decrease in serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P< 0.05) accompanied by a significant increase in serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P< 0.05). The overall results suggest that the MO possesses potential hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits.