Combined administration of extracts of Vernonia amygdalina (Del) and Azadirachta indica (A. Juss) mimic insulin in time-Course body weight and glucose regulation in diabetic and non diabetic rats.

ABSTRACT
An investigation into the possible antidiabetic mechanism of the combined administration of V. amygdalina (VA) and A. Indica (Al), we monitored daily changes in blood glucose and body weight of streptozotocin-diabetic and non diabetic rats treated with the combined extracts (100mg/kg b.w. each of VA mad AI p.o) and insulin (Humulin, 5 units/kg b.w. s.c.) for 28 days. Results showed decrease in blood glucose concentration of the treated diabetic and non diabetic animals. However. the decrease in both cases were prompt in the combined extracts and insulin-treated rats compared to extracts of VA or Al alone which only began 7days after commencement of administration. Moreover, the time-course variation in blood glucose of rats treated with combined extracts was similar and almost paralleled that of insulin-treated rats, but more steady with extracts treatment than Insulin. This trend in blood glucose regulation was also replicated in body weight regulation but inverse in direction. Extracts of VA and may contain insulin-like phytochemicals which mimic insulin in action when used in combination as a management against diabetes
Keywords: Polyherbal therapy, V. amygdalina, A. indica, antidiabetic mechanism, insulin-mimetic.