324ANTIOXIDATIVE AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF DIETS CONTAINING COMBINED LEAVES OF VERNONIA AMYGDALINA AND GONGRONEMA LATIFOLIUM LEAVES IN STREPTOZOTOCIN- INDUCED DIABETIC RATSThe present studies determined some indices of oxidative stress and liver damage in diabetic rats consuming diets containing combined leaves of Vernonia amygdalina(VA) and Gongronema latifolium (GL) leaves in order to evaluate the involvement of the diets in the management of oxidative stress and liver damage common among diabetics. Ninety rats were randomly divided into nine group with10 rats per group. Group 1 (normal control) and Group 2 (diabetic control) consumed control diet, Group 3 and 6 (diabetic VA treated) consumed 5% and 7.5%VA diets respectively. Group 4 and 7 (diabetic GL treated) consumed 5% and 7.5% GL diets respectively. Group 5 and 8 (diabetic VA+ GL treated) consumed 5% and 7.5% combined VA+GL diets respectively. Group 9 (diabetic insulin treated) consumed control diet and was treated with insulin. Feed and water were given ad- libitum for 28 days.Resultsshowed that diabetic rats consuming single and combined leaves diets had significant (P<0.05) reduction in MDA concentration and in the level of ALT, AST, and ALP in the serum and liver tissue homogenate and a significant increase it the activities of GPx, SOD and Catalase relative to the diabetic control. The results of diets treatment were superior compared to insulin. The combined therapy maximised therapeutic potentials compared to single treatments, and in almost all cases normalized the level of the studied indices. It was concluded that consumption of diets containing combined leaves of Vernonia amygdalina and Gongronema latifolium leaves has antioxidative and hepatoprotective effect in diabetes mellitus.henry_dan4u@yahoo.comResearch592015Diabetes,Diet,polyherbal, Vernonia amygdalina,Gongronema latifolium,Oxidative stress,Liver damageAkpan HD,Usoh IFDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo, Uyo, P.M.B. 1017, AkwaIbom State, Nigeria.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo, Uyo, P.M.B. 1017, AkwaIbom State, Nigeria.