Effects of the Combination of Aqueous Extracts of Vernonia amygdalina and Tamarindus indica on Digestive Enzymes and Hematological Profile of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Aims: Many strategies have been put in place to stop diabetes and its related complications: the use of plants has proved to be less costly and with few side-effects. Among these plants Vernonia amygdalina and Tamarindus indica are used because of their richness in bioactive compounds, notably phenols and dietary fiber. The aim of this work was first to evaluate the effect of combining aqueous extracts of Vernonia amygdalina leaves and Tamarindus indica pulp on two energy metabolism enzymes (alphaamylase and pancreatic lipase), and secondly to assess the effect of combining these extracts on the hematological profile of streptozotocin-induced diabetic wistar rats.

Methodology: Vernonia amygdalina leaves and Tamarindus indica pulp was subject to aqueous extraction, the two extracts obtained were mixed in vitro in the presence of the two enzymes and their inhibitory power evaluated; streptozotocin was used to induce diabetes in Wistar rats which were then treated with our extracts and the combination of these; their blood was collected and hematological analysis carried out.

Results: Our findings revealed that at 100 mg/l, the mixture showed a 23.56±4.6% inhibition of alphaamylase. The percentage inhibition of pancreatic lipase varied depending on the extract concentration from 8.81±1.90 at 62.5µg/ml to 31.95±1.90 at 1000µg/ml, and the mixture also improved hematological parameters in diabetic rats.

Conclusions: combining these two extracts makes it possible to increase the inhibitory power with respect to these enzymes and improves the hematological profile, this could therefore be beneficial for the non drug management of diabetes.