RESUMO
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae) on plasma glucose level, total cholesterol level, triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in male albino rats. Study Design: Experimental method was adopted. Place and Duration of Study: Adeleke University, Ede, Nigeria and University of Ibadan, Nigeria between September 2012 and January, 2013. Methodology: Twenty-four male albino rats of the Wistar strain weighing between 160 and 200 g were used for this study. These were randomly assigned into 3 groups of 8 animals per group as normal control, diabetic control and diabetic treated with extract of Moringa oleifera. Diabetes was induced by 100 mg/kg of alloxan monohydrate. The control and the diabetic groups received distilled water while the diabetic treated group was administered 400 mg/kg body weight of aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera for 28 days. At the end of the experiment, plasma glucose level, cholesterol, Triglycerides (TG), High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) and Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) were determined in all the experimental animals after 12 hours fast. Results: The result showed significant increases (P<0.05) in plasma cholesterol, TG and LDL level of the diabetic control group when compared with the normal control group while there were no significant differences in the Moringa oleifera -treated diabetic group and the normal control group. The HDL however was not different in all the three groups. Conclusion: Oral administration of aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera may reduce the plasma lipid imbalances associated with diabetes mellitus.