"Comparative Antidiabetic Properties of Ageratum conyzoides and Tridax procumbens Leaf Extracts on Experimental Rats Induced with Diabetes"

Plants have been a viable source of antibacterial compounds and have been used in the treatment of a number of infectious diseases.However, their effects on non-infectious diseases are increasingly being evaluated.The comparative studies of the antidiabetic properties of Ageratum conyzoides and Tridax procumbens leaf extracts and their synergistic effect was carried out using standard methods.The collection of plant materials was from Aganni farm area at Oba-Afunbiowo Estate, Akure, Nigeria.Upon collection, the plants leaves were air-dried, pulverized and subjected to extraction using non-polar and polar solvents including aqueous, chloroform and ethanolic extractions.Furthermore, diabetes was induced in the experimental albino rats using streptozotocin (STZ) dissolved in 0.1M citrate buffer.The biological effect of the extract on the blood samples of the rats were evaluated by measuring the blood glucose levels and other haematological parameters at intervals coupled with histopathological assay to ascertaining further deleterious effects of the extracts on selected vital organs including the heart, brain and kidney.Findings from the research reveal the plants extracts were able to initiate increase in weight of the animals following an initial weight loss observed after diabetes was induced in the experimental rats indicating its therapeutic efficacy.Moreover, the result showed that the group of rats treated with T. procumbens extracts exhibited unperceptive recovery in weight gain until the end of the experiment.The initial weight of the experimental rats measured at the beginning of the experiment for this group ranges between 110.40±2.63gand 110.23±1.56g.Additionally, the effect of the induced diabetes on the rats caused a significant increase of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and white blood cell counts.Conversely, significant decrease of the haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, platelets and red blood cell count were observed.Furthermore, a shrinking or reduction in size of the brain and the heart of the experimental rats were observed, whilst causing a significant increase in the size of the kidneys.In addition, the induced diabetes caused trigeminal nucleus with striated cortex and severe hypostatic central congestion, and neocortex with central mesencephalic nuclei infiltrations coupled with abnormal cell architecture with negative pathology due nuclei gatherings.The plant extract caused these pathologies to be reduced into intact cortical sheath with dilated neocortex of the meninges having an increased nucleus number and intact locus coeruleus.Moreover, it caused heart cardiac striata with profuse haemorrhage and inflammatory cells and congested intra-dilated capillaries.The extracts caused these effects to be corrected but lack proper aorta opening network of systolic transport system.As a result, the induced diabetes caused pathological features that include complete washing away and haemorrhagic unformed kidney nephrons with calcium crystal deposits.However, administration of the extracts caused significant recuperative effects that include nephrons with infiltrated cells and gobble structures.Overall, the results obtained revealed the synergistic potentials of the two plant extracts providing the best therapeutic efficacy against diabetes.As a result, we hereby recommend further purification of both extracts for managing diabetes, especially in the recuperation of vital organs usually affected by diabetes.