Abstract

This study investigates the anti-diabetic and some hematological effects of aqueous and ethanol leaf extracts of Eriosema psoraleoides in alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar rats. Forty-eight albino mice were used for the lethal dose (LD₅₀) study, while twenty-eight Wistar rats were used for the diabetic and haematological study. The result of the phytochemical analysis shows some important phytochemicals that could confer some health benefits. The extracts had lethal doses (LD₅₀) of 4000 and 5000 mg/kg­^-1 body weight, which indicate that the extract was safe to a greater extent. The baseline blood glucose concentration presents non-diabetic glucose level 86.25±8.26 mg dL­­^-1. Diabetes was induced with alloxan monohydrate. A significant decrease (p<0.05) in blood glucose levels in the test animals were observed when compared with positive control. The extracts had a significant effect on blood glucose and haematological levels of the treated rats closer to that of the standard drug (glibenclamide) with significant (p<0.05) increase in red blood cell (RBC) and significant (p<0.05) decrease in neutrophils and lymphocytes in all test groups relative to positive control. However, white blood cell (WBC) showed significant decrease (p<0.05) in groups which received aqueous extracts when compared with positive control. The results of the study showed that the extracts of E. psoraleoides leaves exhibited significant anti-diabetic activities against alloxan-induced diabetes Wistar rats. It suggests the extracts possess bioactive compounds that when properly harnessed could help in improving the health state of diabetic patients.

Key words: Eriosema psoraleoides, anti-diabetic, alloxan induced diabetic rats, haematological parameters.