Abstract / Summary
V. amygdalina (VA) and P. biglobosa (PB) have independently demonstrated antihyperglycemic and tissue-protective effects, but evidence regarding their combined activity remains limited. This study evaluated the antidiabetic effects of co-administration of VA leaf and PB seed extracts in diabetic rats. Forty-eight male Wistar rats were allocated into six groups: Groups 1 (a non-diabetic control), 2 (untreated diabetic), 3 (glibenclamide-treated diabetic, 2.5 mg/kg), 4 to 6 (diabetic groups treated with VA (200 mg/kg), PB (200 mg/kg), and their combination (200 mg/kg). Fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin, lipid profile, liver and kidney function parameters were assayed. Secondary metabolites were also quantified. Results showed the presence of tannins, cardiac glycosides, anthocyanins, flavonones, flavones and oxalates amongst others in both plants. Compared with untreated diabetic rats, VA, PB, and glibenclamide significantly reduced FBG (p < 0.05). VA + PB produced the fastest early glucose reduction (33.6% by Day 9). Serum insulin remained unchanged (p > 0.05) in all the experimental groups. The combined treatment produced the greatest overall improvement in lipid profile, reducing triglycerides by 18.8%, total cholesterol by 21.3%, LDL-cholesterol by 91.9%, and VLDL-cholesterol by 18.8%. It also reduced total bilirubin by 73.9%, direct bilirubin by 44.9%, and serum uric acid by 53.7%, although alkaline phosphatase remained elevated. These findings demonstrated that VA and PB possess significant antihyperglycaemic, hypolipidaemic, hepatoprotective, and renoprotective activities, with combined administration providing the broadest overall metabolic benefits.