Abstract
This work as s es s ed th e changes in serum electrolyte profile following oral administration
of leaf-extracts of Vernonia amygdalina (VA) and Azadirachta indica (AI) singly and in combination,
and subcutaneous insulin to diabetic and non diabetic rats for 28 d a y s . Se rum concentrations of K,
Na, Cl and P of diabetic control ratsdecrased relative to non diab e t ic co ntrol, although this decrease
was significant (P<0>
Treatment with VA extract alone fu rt her decreas ed significantly (P<0>
(P>0.05) sodium and potassium concentrations respectively. However, th e se hyponatramic and
hypokalaemic actions were effectiv e ly modulated, with adminis tration of the combined extracts . There
were no significant changes in serum calcium levels in all test g ro u p s as well as serum K, Na and
Cl levels of the non-diabetic rats which received treatment. Serum phosphorus co ncentration which
was significantly reduced (P<0>
in the tes t animals upon adminis tration of VA extract alone relative to both co n t rols . Unlike the case
with sodium, co-administration with AI extracts could not modulate VA effect, rather it caused a
s teeper 4.94 and 3.20 fold d e c re a s es (P<0>
and non-diabetic controls respectively, an d a 2.73 fold decrease in non-diabetic test group compared
to no n -d iab e tic control. Combined administration of VA and AI extracts can reverse dilutional
hyponatraemia in diabetes complication and of management with VA extract but may amplify the
diabetes induced hypophosphataemia.
