Evaluation of the hematological effects of crude extract and fractions of Napoleonae imperialis in streptozotocin - induced diabetic rats

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the hematological effects of crude extract and fractions of Napoleonae imperialis in streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats. In phase one, forty two male albino rats of mean weight 140 g were used for the study. The animals were grouped into seven groups of six rats each, as follows: Group 1 (normal control), group 2 (diabetic group), group 3 (drug control); groups 4, 5 and 6 were the test groups administered 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kgbwt of the crude extract, group 7 received 500 mg/kg bwt of the extract only. There was significant (p < 0.05) decrease in blood glucose concentration in groups 3 - 7 when compared with group 2. There was also significant (p < 0.05) increase in Hb, MCHC, RBC and WBC concentrations in groups 3 - 7 when compared with group 2. In phase two, a total of 54 animals of mean weight 140 g were placed into nine groups of six rats each as follows: Group 1 (normal control), group 2 (diabetic control), group 3 (drug control), while groups 4 - 9 received fractions 1 - 6 respectively for 28
days. The results showed that fractions 2, 5 and 6 significantly reduced blood glucose concentration, when compared with group 2. There was significant (p < 0.05) increase in Hb, MCHC, RBC and WBC in rats that received fractions 2, 5 and 6 when compared with group 2. These findings suggest that crude extract and fractions of N. imperialis possess hypoglycemic properties and increased Hb, MCHC, RBC and WBC concentrations. Investigation is needed to exploit the plant’s other relevant therapeutic effects to substantiate its ethnomedicinal usage.