Evaluation of Effect of Ethanol Extracts of Moringa oleifera and Cajanus cajan Leaves on Lipid Profiles in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Albino Rats

The study was designed to evaluate the effect of ethanol extract of Moringa oleifera and Cajanus cajan leaves on lipid profiles in alloxan induced diabetic albino rats. Diabetes was induced in three groups of rats, one group was not treated while two groups were treated orally with M. oleifera and C. cajan ethanol leaf extracts at 200,400 and 800 mg/kg body weight once for seven days respectively. One group was not induced and received feed and distilled water only. The lipid profiles were determined from blood plasma by spectrophotometeric method. Twenty four albino rats were grouped into A, B, C and D. Group C and D were further subdivided into C C , C , D , D and D respectively. Diabetes was induced in all the groups, except 1, 2 3 1 2 3 group A (positive control). Group B (negative control) was induced and was not treated while Group C and D were treated with ethanol extract of M. oleifera and C. cajan leaves which were given orally to the rats once daily for seven days at varying concentration of 200,400 and 800 mg/kg body weight. The result of the study showed that there were significant (P<0.05) reductions in the mean body weights. The result revealed that a significant (P<0.05) decrease in the total cholesterol level in albino rats treated with ethanol extracts of M. oleifera and C. cajan leaves except in 200 mg/kg body weight where no significant (P>0.05) decrease was observed. A significant (P<0.05) increase was also observed in HDL-C level in albino rats treated with ethanol extracts of M. oleifera and C. cajan leaves except in 200 mg/kg body weight where a significant (P<0.05) decrease was recorded with C. cajan. The result also revealed that there was significant (p<0.05) decrease in the LDL-C level in albino rats treated with C. cajan extracts except in 800 mg/kg body weight where no significant (P>0.05) decrease was observed while a significant (p<0.05) increase was observed in LDL-C level in rats when Moringa oleifera ethanol leaf extract was administered. The result also showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in triglyceride level in albino rats treated with ethanol extracts of M. oleifera leaf while no significant (p<0.05) increase was observed in triglyceride level in the group treated with C. cajan leaf extract. The result indicates that Moringa oleifera and Cajanus cajan leaves may be useful in the management of cardiovascular disease.