A Comparative Study on the Effect of Combined Methanolic Leaf Extracts of Vernonia amygdalina and Gongronema latifolium and Metformin on the Pancreatic beta cells of Streptozocin Induced Diabetic Wistar Rats

The effects of？ methanolic leaf extracts of Vernonia amygdalina (VA) (Bitter leaf) and Gongronema latifolium (GL) (Utazi) and metformin on the histology and the DNA of the pancreas of streptozocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats were investigated in this study. 24 male albino rats which were divided into four groups of six rats each were used for this work: A (Normal control) and B (Diabetic control) received tap water, C received 5mg/kg of Metformin daily, D received combined extract of VA and GL, 400mg/kg twice daily. Groups B – D animals were induced for diabetes by intraperitoneal injection of 45mg/kg of Streptozocin, Following sacrifice, the pancreas and blood were collected for histopathological and biochemical studies. The results revealed normal exocrine and endocrine pancreas in group A. In group B, the pancreatic islets cells were shrunken with signs of degeneration and inflammation. In the group that received metformin, the islet appeared shrunken. In group D, the pancreas showed prominent and normal acinar and islet cells, suggestive of a possible regeneration. Feulgen’s reaction showed damage to the DNA of group B which was almost completely reversed in group D. The blood glucose in group B was significantly higher (P<0.05) compared to group A. In all the treatment groups, the blood glucose was significantly reduced (p<0.05) compared to group B.？ Administration of methanolic leaf extracts of Vernonia amygdalina and Gongronema latifolium especially in combination restores pancreatic beta cells damaged by STZ compared to metformin.