Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the comparative effects of aqueous leaves extracts of some medicinal herbs: Jatropha curcas, Moringa oleifera, Ocimum gratissimum, Rauwolfia vomitoria and Phyllantus amarus on blood glucose level in West African dwarf goats. Fifty five male West African dwarf goats weighing between 8-12 kg were divided into six groups (one group for each medicinal plant) of ten animals each and control group consisting of five animals. Three ml (consisting of 0.6 mg/ animal) of the various aqueous leaves extracts were administered orally for fourteen days to the groups of animals while the control group received water only. The recovery groups were treated as those in treatment groups and were allowed to recover for another fourteen days before blood collection via the jugular vein. The various herbal medicinal plants with the exception of Ocimum gratissimum caused significant (p<0.05) decrease in blood glucose level when test groups were compared to the control group. The Ocimum gratissimum aqueous leaves extract caused a non- significant decrease (p > 0.05) in mean blood glucose level from 94.20 ± 6.83 in control group to 84.40 ± 0.51 in test group. The findings in this study suggest that aqueous leaves extract of Jatropha curcas, Moringa oleifera, Rauwolfia vomitoria and Phyllantus amarus possess significant anti-hyperglycemic property.