Methanolic stem-bark extracts of Adansonia digitata modulates haematological and antioxidant parameters in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Background and Aim

Diabetes mellitus is associated with haematological abnormalities and oxidative stress, contributing to disease progression and complications. Adansonia digitata, is a traditional medicinal plant well known for its potential therapeutic properties. This study investigates the effects of methanolic stem-bark extracts of Adansonia digitata on haematological and antioxidant status in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Experimental Procedure

Fourty-two wistar rats were distributed into 6 groups of 7 each. Group 1 served as normal control, group 2 to 6 animals were made diabetic by intraperitoneal administration of single dose of 50 mg kg^-1 streptozotocin. Group 2 served as the negative control and did not receive treatment, group 3 served as the positive control and received 150 mg kg^-1 metformin (Glucophage) (standard drug), while group 4, 5 and 6 received oral treatment of 100 mg kg^-1, 200 mg kg^-1 and 300 mg kg^-1 of Adansonia digitata stem-bark methanolic extract respectively for 21days, after which the animals were sacrificed, and blood and liver were collected for haematological analysis including White Blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), haemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (H CT), platelet (PLT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), total bilirubin (TB), direct bilirubin(DB) and indirect bilirubin (IB) concentration and antioxidant parameters including antioxidant enzymes [catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities] and oxidative stress marker [thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS)].

Results

STZ administration evoked a marked (p < 0.05) decline in the level of WBC, RBC, HGB, PLT, LYM and MCV in the diabetic rats when compared with the normal control. Howbeit, treatment with methanolic extracts of adansonia digitata stem-bark led to a profound (p < 0.05) increase in concentrations of these parameters close to the normal. In addition, STZ caused a non-significant (p > 0.05) decrease in MCH and MCHC. On the contrary, STZ caused an insignificant (p > 0.05) increase in the levels of TB and DB, but a significant (p > 0.05) increase IDB level in the diabetic control group when compared with the normal control group, while treatment with stem-bark extracts resulted in a marked (p > 0.05) fall in IDB level. Furthermore, there was a marked (P < 0.05) reduction in the activity of hepatic CAT and SOD and a considerable (P < 0.05) elevation in Malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the hepatic tissue of the diabetic control. Nonetheless, Adansonia digitata stem-bark extracts profoundly (P < 0.05) raised the activities of the enzymes and concomitantly counteracted MDA level. The extract elicited strong potency at 300 mg kg^-1 which is comparable to metformin (Glucophage).

Conclusion

Consequently, this study advocates for the utility of Adansonia digitata extracts for the development of novel drugs for combating diabetes mellitus, associated hematological and oxidative stress complications and other ailments. Further research is needed to evaluate the clinical relevance of these effects in human subjects and to provide information on the sustained efficacy of the extracts in chronic models.

Significant statement

Oxidative stress and hematological abnormalities are two of the consequences linked to diabetes mellitus. Anaemia and poor blood coagulation are two haematological changes that increase the risk of diabetes-related illness and death. Furthermore, oxidative stress is essential to the pathophysiology of diabetic complications such as nephropathy and cardiovascular disease. In addition, there are reports on hematological and biochemical alterations in diabetic subjects arising from the intake of synthetic antidiabetic medications.^. Consequent to the safety, ease of use, efficacy, and lack of cytotoxic side effects of plants’ herbs, the study of Adansonia digitata's methanolic stem-bark extracts on haematological and antioxidant parameters in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats is of paramount importance as the extracts' capacity to modify these parameters, will lead to the development of novel drugs that cures anemia, other blood abnormalities, and oxidative stress linked to diabetes as well as other ailments.