Changes in some liver lipids of non-diabetic and diabetic rats following administration of combined extracts of Vernonia amygdalina and Azadirachta indica

Abstract

Some lipid fractions of whole liver homogenate (WLH) of normal and streptozotocin diabetic rats administered combined extracts of Vernonia amygdalina (VA) and Azadirachta indica (AI) for 28 days were evaluated. There was significant decrease (p<0.05) in HDL-cholesterol concentration in hepatocytes of diabetic control rats compared to the normal control. Whereas administration of single extracts of VA or AI further reduced the HDL-cholesterol non-significantly (p>0.05) and significantly (p<0.05), respectively, co-administration of the two extracts significantly increased (p<0.05) the HDL-cholesterol to levels comparable to the insulin treated group. Total cholesterol (TC) concentration of diabetic rats was not significantly altered by the extracts. In the non diabetic counterparts, AI extract alone, caused a significant elevation (p<0.05) of TC concentration. However, this effect was modulated by VA extract when given as combined extract. Triacylglycerol (TG) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol levels in hepatocytes of diabetic control rats which reduced significantly (p<0.05) following diabetes induction, became significantly increased (p<0.05) upon administration of both single and combined extracts. The effect of extracts on these latter indices was better than insulin treated group. Combined extract of VA and AI suppresses hyperlipidemia of diabetes via hepatic lipid modulation and may be better in this respect than insulin.