Immunological and Haematological Disturbances in Diabetes Mellitus: Modulatory Role of Diets Containing Vernonia amygdalina Leaves

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine some makers of immunology and haematology in Streptozotocin -induced diabetic wistar rats consuming Vernonia amygdalina leaf diets in order to evaluate the involvement of the diets in the management of immunological and haematological complications among diabetics.

Design and Methodology: Fifty albino wistar rats were divided into five groups with 10 rats in each group. Group 1 (normal control) was fed with control diet; Group 2 (diabetic control) was fed with control diet, Group 3 and 4 (diabetic treated with diets) were fed with Vernonia amygdalina leaf diet at 5% and 7.5%, respectively. Group 5 (diabetic treated with insulin) was fed with control diet and administered insulin. Feed and water were given ad- libitum for 28 days. Full blood count (FBC) was determined using automated haematology analyzer, KX2IN (non-cyanide hemoglobin analysis method. The CD4+ lymphocyte was estimated by flow cytometry using the cyflow automated cell counter (Parlec, Germany).

Results: Results showed that diabetic rats consuming Vernonia amygdalina had significant (P < 0.5) increase in the RBC, haemoglobin, and lymphocyte counts relative to the diabetic control. Diabetic rats consuming Vernonia amygdalina had significant (P < 0.5) reduction in the level of WBC, platelets, neutrophil, and CD4+ cell count relative to the diabetic control. The results for Vernonia amygdalina diets were similar to insulin on the measured parameters and their levels were not significantly different (P >0.5) when compared to the normal control.

Conclusion: We concluded that consumption of diets containing Vernonia amygdalina leaves might have positive effect on the immunological and haematological abnormalities associated with diabetes mellitus.