ACUTE TOXICITY AND EFFECT OF MORINGA OLEIFERA LEAF EXTRACT ON BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVEL OF STREPTOZOCIN INDUCED HYPERGLYCEMIA IN ALBINO RATS

摘要

The acute oral toxicity of graded doses of aqueous extract of Mdringa oleifera leaves was investigated using the Up and Down procedure. The hypoglycemic effect of the extract was also investigated on streptozocin induced hyperglycaemic rats. The result revealed that the lethal dose of the plant was greater than 5000mg/kg body weight. The administration of graded doses of the extract produced significant (P<0.05) decreases in the blood sugar levels of the treated animals when compared to the control group. The significant hypoglycemic effect may be the justification for M.oleifera folkoloric use as a potential hypoglycemic agent. In conclusion M. oleifera leaf extract may be said to possess hypoglycaemic property.