Effect of hibiscus sabdariffa l., zingiber officinale roscoe and piper nigrum l. On the hematological parameters of alloxan induced diabetic wistar rats.

Background: Diabetes is a disease condition of metabolism clinically expressed by chronic hyperglycemia and protein disorder; it has a link to several complications that cause morbidity and mortality and native plants with antidiabetic properties can be used to avoid further progression of the disease Objective: To investigate the antidiabetic properties of combined extract of hibiscus sabdariffa l., zingiber officinale roscoe and piper nigrum l. as well as its effect on selected hematological parameters in alloxan induced diabetic wistar rats Methods: Thirty (30) male wistar rats aged between 8-10 weeks, weighing 130g to 138g were divided into five groups of six rats each and acclimatized for a week prior to the commencement of the treatments. Of the 5 groups, 4 were induced with 170mg/kg body weight of alloxan. Diabetic rats were treated with 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg of the combined extract as well as 500mg/kg of metformin. The last diabetic group was left untreated and served as the negative control. All treatments were administered for 21 days with blood glucose level and body weight of the experimental animals regularly measured during the course of the treatment. At the end of the treatments, experimental rats were sacrificed and the blood collected was used to carry out hematological analysis including White Blood Cell count(WBC), Red Blood Cell count (RBC), Hemoglobin concentration (Hb), Hematocrit (Hct) or Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and  Platelet (Plt). The results were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) at P˂0.05. Results:  The combined plant extract was observed to cause a decrease in the blood sugar level and also helped to maintain the body weight of animals. Similarly, the level of the PCV and the HB significantly increased (p<0.05) after administering the combined extract at the two selected doses. Also the WBC count was significantly (p<0.05) lowered following the administration of the combined extract. Conclusion: The combined extracts of Hibiscus Sabdariffa and Zingiber Officinale and Piper Nigrum have potential in the management of hyperglycemia as well as in the improvement of hematological parameters in alloxan induced diabetic rats.