Asian Food Science Journal

The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of Moringa oleifrea seed meal and yam blend in body weight and glucose level of alloxan - induced diabetes mellitus in male albino rats.  The animal study was carried out at the animal house of ⁵ Department of physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology of the College of Veterinary Medicine Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi Benue State. Three yam varieties namely Dioscorea alata, cayennesis, rotundata and Moringa oleifera were sourced at Wurukum Market Makurdi Benue State Nigeria. Moringa oleifera seed was deposited at the herbarium for identification. The yam varieties were processed into flour and Moringa oleifera seeds were processed into seed meal. The moringa seed meal and yam flour were formulated into animal feed at 90% (yam / moringa seed meal blend) and 10% (rat chow); to produce  Dioscorea alata control (100%) at 90% + 10% commercial feed , DA90%MRGA10% at (90%) +10%commercial feed, Dioscorea rotundata control (100%) at 90+10% commercial feed, DR 90% MRGA10%, at (90%) +10%commercial feed, Dioscorea cyennesis control (100%) at 90% + 10% commercial. DC 90% MRGA10% at (90%) +10%commercial feed, Moringa seed meal (100%) at 90% + 10% commercial feed, and 100% commercial feed.  Both GRP8 (non -diabetic group) and GRP 9 (diabetic untreated group), were feed with rat Chow.

This was used for the treatment of 45 male albino rats that were acclimatized for two weeks. The animals were grouped into nine groups and each group contains 5 rats.  They were later induced with diabetic with alloxan monohydrate, at 60 mg/kg body weight in 0.05M citrate, pH 4.5. The result generated illustrated that there was a significant increase (p≥0, 05) in the body weight of the animals in GRP1 to GRP8 which are diabetic treated animal. Animals in GRP8 were not diabetic. The glucose level of the animals in GRP1 to GRP7 increases from 48 hrs having been confirmed diabetic with blood glucose level of 197.00±12.44 to 205.50±81.37. However, the animals in Grp9 which are the diabetic untreated animals has a constant significant decreased in the body weight from the period under investigation which value decreases from 103.80^a±9.12 to 78.40^e±4.6 at the end of the study. The glucose level increased significantly from baseline to wk 4 (105.20±6.4 to 244.40±54.