ABSTRACT The effects of methanolic leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) on some biochemical parameters on alloxan-induced diabetic male albino rats (Wistar strain) were investigated for a period of 14 days. Adult male albino rats weighing between 140-160 g were induced intraperitoneally with alloxan. The male albino rats were grouped into five groups: Group A are not induced with alloxan, Group B serves as the negative control, Group C serves as positive control and was treated with glibenclaimide, Group D and E were treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight of methanolic leaf extract of V. amygdalina respectively. The extracts were given to the animals orally for 14 days. The phytochemical analysis of Vernonia amygdalina extract indicates the presence of secondary metabolites like tannins, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, anthraquinones, Glycosides, Cyanogenic glycosides, polyphenols and Terpenoids. The weight of diabetic untreated rats (Group B) were significantly (P<0.005) reduced when compared to other groups. The group of rats given 100 and 200mg/Kg B.W of extract showed significant decrease (P<0.05) of blood sugar level compared to the untreated rats. The decrease in the blood glucose level of the rats following the administration of the plant extract suggests that the plant extract possesses anti-diabetic, anti-hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic effects on alloxan- induced diabetic rats. The extract of V. amygdalina produces hypolipidaemic effect and this is evident as there is a significant decrease in plasma TC, TG, LDC-Cholesterol, atherogenic index and an increase HDL-Cholesterol in the treated groups compared to the negative control group. The extracts significantly increase HGB, RBC, HCT and the WBC is significantly reduced in the treated group compared to the untreated group. This is an indication that the extract does possess hematopoietic activities and is not hematotoxic. The extract significantly reduced (P<0.005) liver biomarker enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP and GGT), an indication that it has hepatoprotective effect. KEYWORDS:Alloxan-induced diabetic rats, biochemical parameters, hepatoprotective effect, phytochemical analysis and vernonia amygdalina. INTRODUCTION Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the major complex and chronic disorders of carbohydrate, protein and lipid metabolism characterized by persistent elevation of blood glucose, resulting from a partial or complex cessation of insulin secretion or synthesis, or peripheral resistance to insulin action (Murray and Pizzomoj,(1997)). Medicinal plants have the basis of health care throughout the world and remain relevant both in the developing and developed nations of the world for various chemotherapeutic purposes. Several traditional medicinal herbs have been preferred given the plethora of active ingredients present in a single herb (Tiwari and Rao (2002)). Baynes (1991) showed that diabetic nephropathy is one of the major causes of morbidity and premature mortality in patients with insulin-dependent DM. Medicinal plants contain potentially useful chemicals that serve as basis for the manufacturing of modern medicines (Okigbo et al., 2009). Vernonia amygdalina, is a shrub that grows up to three meters high in African tropics and other parts of Africa, particularly, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Zimbabwe. The taxonomic classification of Vernonia amygdalina is as follows: Kingdom: plantae, Division: Angiosperms, Order : Asterales, Family: Asteraceae, Genius: Vernonia, Species: V. amygdalina, Botanical Name: Vernonia amygdalina. It has a variety of names in various languages. It is commonly called “Bitter leaf” in English language, “Shuwaka” in Hausa language, “Onugbu” in Igbo language,it is called “Etidot”, in Efik, Ijaw and Ibibio, “Ewuro” in Yoruba language, “Oriwo” in Edo and “Chusa-doki” in Hausa (Egedigwe 2010). Pharmacological studies have shown that the leaf extract of V. amygdalina has both hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties in experimental animals and so could be used in the management of diabetes, hypertension etc (Akah and Okafor, 1992). METHODOLOGY Collection and identification of plant material The leaves of Vernonia amygdalina were collected from a farm in Ikorodu in Lagos State, Nigeria and authenticated by Mr Godonu Kolawole Gbemavo, a Chief Lecturer from the Department of Crop Production and Horticulture, School of Agriculture, Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, Lagos- Nigeria. Preparation of methanolic leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina The leaves were air dried under shade in the Biochemistry laboratory. The dried leaves were pounded to coarse powder in a mortar and then to fine powder with a blender. Extraction was carried out by dispersing 200g of the grounded plant material in 1L of 80% Methanol and shaking was done with GFL shaker for 72 hours.This was followed with vacuum filtration and evaporation at a temperature not exceeding 40�C. The concentrate was dried to complete Science Journal of Biotechnology ISSN:2276-6375 http://www.sjpub.org/sjbt.html © Author(s) 2014. CC Attribution 3.0 License. Published By Science Journal Publication International Open Access Publisher Research Article Hypoglycemic and Hepatoprotective Effects of Vernonia Amygdalina (Bitter Leaf) and Its Effect on Some Biochemical Parameters in Alloxan-induced Diabetic Male Albino Rats Momoh Johnson¹*; Akoro.S.M ² and Godonu K.G³. ¹Department of Science Laboratory Technology (Biochemistry unit) , School of Technology , Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, Lagos – Nigeria. ²Department of Science Laboratory Technology (Chemistry unit), School of Technology, Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, Lagos-Nigeria. ³Department of Crop Production and Horticulture, School of Agriculture, Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, Lagos-Nigeria Volume 2014, Article ID sjbt-194, 7 Pages, 2014, doi: 10.7237/sjbt/194 Accepted 12�� April, 2014 Corresponding Author:Momoh Johnson Department of Science Laboratory Technology (Biochemistry unit) , School of Technology , Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, Lagos – Nigeria. Email address: mjohnson_2008@yahoo.com