Abstract

Recently, there has been great interest in herbal medicines for treatment of diverse diseases. Earlier studies have been done on Vernonia Amygdalina (VA) and Gongronema Latifolium (GL) for antidiabetic effect using various animal models. This study focused on the formulation and evaluation of capsules of VA and GL. Their combinations with standard antidiabetic drug glibenclamide and metformin, were also formulated. The freeze-dried aqueous extracts and semi-purified VA and GL were used in formulation of capsules. Investigation on antidiabetic effects of capsules of plant extracts (individual and combined) on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was carried out. The maximum antidiabetic dose for capsules of aqueous extract for VA and GL were 150 and 800mg/kg respectively. The antidiabetic effect of aqueous extract of VA and GL capsules were 67.63+2.59 and 52+11.82 %, respectively. Combined VA and standard drug had no significant effect on antidiabetic activity (p=0.813) when compared with individual VA capsules. Combined VA and GL produced marked decrease in blood glucose of 87.52+2.48% (p<0.001). Based on the findings from investigations carried out, aqueous VA and GL combined capsules demonstrated significant antidiabetic activities. This research has now clearly demonstrated that the extracts can be formulated into standard dosage forms like capsules.