In vitro and In vivo Assessment of the Anti-diabetes Potentials of Murraya koenigii, Hibiscus cannabinus, Vernonia amydalina and Telfairia occidentalis Leave Extract

Assessing the inhibitory activities of Telfairia occidentalis, Murraya koenigii, Hibiscus cannabinus and Vernonia amygdalina on α-amylase with the view of providing a sustainable remedies for the management of diabetes mellitus was conducted. Findings from In vitro studies showed that the ethanolic extracts (at a concentration of 10 – 100 µg/ml) of Vernonia amygdalina, Telfairia occidentalis, Murraya koenigii and Hibiscus cannabinus exerted a maximum percentage inhibition on α-amylase at 74.28, 64.87, 58.60 and 71.20 respectively; with IC50 of 10.70 µg/ml, 680 µg/ml, 62.62 µg/ml and 30.0 µg/ml when compared with the standard drug. In vivo studies also showed that hypoglycaemic activity of ethanolic extracts of Vernonia amygdalina, Telfairia occidentalis, Murraya koenigii and Hibiscus cannabinus on oral administration (400 mg/Kg b.w) on alloxan induced diabetes albino rats significantly (P˂0.05) improved body weight and significantly decrease blood glucose levels (P˂0.05). This suggest among others that these plants have the potential of being is a promising adjuncts for the management of diabetes in lowering post prandial hyperglycaemia. In vivo studies further shows that Murraya koenigii, and Vernonia amygdalina leaves could be important in the management of diabetes mellitus as results indicated a competing hypoglycaemic activity with the standard drug (Acarbose). The implication of adopting the extracts of these plants in the design of cost friendly drugs with minimal side effects for diabetes mellitus was discussed.