Ameliorative Effect of Gongronema latifolium Leaf Diets on Hematological and Immunological Disturbances in Streptozotozin-induced Diabetic Rats

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine some biomarkers of immunology and hematology in streptozotocin- induced diabetic wistar rats consuming Gongronema latifolium leaf diets in order to evaluate the involvement of the diet in the management of immunological and hematological complications common among diabetics.

Study Design: The design consisted of fifty rats randomly divided into five groups (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) of 10 rats per group. Group 1(normal control) was fed with control diet; Group 2 (diabetic control) was fed with control diet; Group 3 and 4 (diabetic, diet treated) were fed with Gongronema latifolium at 5% and 7.5% respectively. Group 5 (diabetic, insulin treated) was fed with control diet and treated with insulin. Feed and water were given ad- libitum for 28 days.

Place and Duration of Research: The Research took place at the Department of Biochemistry, University of Calabar, Nigeria between March, 2011 and May, 2012.

Methodology: Biomarkers of hematology and immunology were determined using standard methods.

Results: Results showed that diabetic rats in groups 3 and 4 consuming Gongronema latifolium diet had significant increase (P = .02) in the RBC, hemoglobin, and lymphocyte counts relative to the diabetic control. Diabetic rats consuming Gongronema latifolium had significant reduction (P = .02) in the level of WBC, platelets, neutrophil, and CD4+ cell count relative to the diabetic control. The results for diabetic rats in groups 3 and 4 consuming Gongronema latifolium diets were similar to those on Insulin (group 5) for the measured parameters and were not significantly different when compared to the normal control rats ( group 2).

Conclusion: We concluded that consumption of diets containing Gongronema latifolium leaves has positive effect on the immunological and hematological abnormalities associated with diabetes mellitus and might constitute a diet- based treatment or adjunct for treatment of immunological and hematological disturbances common among diabetics.