Synergistic Effect of Ethanol Extracts of Moringa oleifera and Pleurotus ostreatus on Liver Enzymes and Some Renal Functions of Alloxan-induced Diabetic Wistar Albino Rats

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the combined ethanol extracts of Moringa oleifera and Pleurotus ostreatus on the liver and some renal function of alloxan-induced diabetic rats by checking the concentrations of the liver enzymes (AST, ALT & ALP), total bilirubin, total protein, albumin, creatinine, urea & uric acid. Study Design: Animal experimental study. Place of Study: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science University of Port Harcourt P.M.B 5323 Port Harcourt Nigeria. Year of Analysis: 2015. Methods: The animals were induced diabetes mellitus type 1 with alloxan at 120 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally. The combined extract was administered to the diabetic wistar albino rats at a different combination percentage of 60% (1,800 mg/kg) Moringa oleifera and 40% (600 mg/kg) Pleurotus ostreatus and 40% (1,200 mg/kg) Moringa oleifera and 60% (900 mg/kg) Pleurotus ostreatus respectively. The rest of the diabetic rats were treated with 100% (3,000 mg/kg) Moringa oleifera, 100% (1,500 mg/kg) Pleurotus ostreatus while 7.1mg/kg of metformin was used as the standard drug. The effect of the combined treatment of the extracts of Moringa oleifera and Pleurotus ostreatus on the liver and renal function of the diabetic animals were monitored by measuring the concentrations of the liver enzymes (alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase), total bilirubin, total protein, albumin, creatinine, urea and uric acid. Results: The combined ethanol leaf extracts of Moringa oleifera and Pleurotus ostreatus significantly (p<0.05) lowered the ALT, AST, ALP, total bilirubin and uric acid and significantly increased the total protein concentration in all the diabetic rats been treated when compared with the diabetic (disease) control rats that were not treated. It was also observed that there was no significant (p<0.05) difference in the concentration of albumin, creatinine and urea during the period of treatment. Conclusion: This study concluded that the combined ethanol extracts of Moringa oleifera and Pleurotus ostreatus produced a significant reduction of elevated liver enzymes and are capable of controlling/regulating impaired kidney functions.