Etim Affiong O.¹, Ani Elemi J.¹, Igajah Collins N.², Nwaehujor Chinaka O.^2,

The phytobiotics used in this study are turmeric (Curcuma longa) and bitters (extracts from leaves of Vernonia amygdalin). The effects on oxidative stress level and hematological parameters in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats treated with either insulin, ethanol extracts of Curcuma longa (turmeric) or Vernonia amygdalina (bitters) was investigated for 28 days. Diabetes was induced in the animals using a single dose of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg), intraperitoneally. Confirmation of diabetes was made 48 h post induction with STZ. Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into six groups of five comprising of Group 1 (normal control), Group 2 (diabetic), Group 3 (insulin treated), Group 4 (turmeric, 400 mg/kg), Group 5 (Curcuma longa, 800 mg/kg), and Group 6 (bitters, 400 mg/kg). At the end of the treatment (28 days), blood was collected from the retrobulbar plexus for various biochemical analyses and animals were humanely sacrificed. Results of blood glucose revealed that at Day 0 and 7, Groups 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 had a significantly (p <0.001) high blood glucose concentration which gradually reduced and at day 28 was significantly (p<0.001) reduced in Groups 3, 4, 5 and 6. There were significant changes in WBC count, lymphocyte count, platelet count and granulocyte count among the groups while RBC, Hb, PCV, MCV, MCH and MCHC showed no significant difference in all the groups. The GSPx, SOD and Catalase levels in Groups 3, 4, 5 and 6 were significantly (p<0.001) increased when compared to Group 2 which was significantly decreased (P<0.001). MDA concentration was significantly increased (P<0.001) in Group 2 compared to normal control group, Groups 3, 4, 5 and 6. These effects were seen to be ameliorative to varying degrees in the insulin- and extract-treated groups. Turmeric and bitters have been demonstrated in this study to significantly decrease oxidative stress levels and improved altered hematological functions to appreciable levels comparable to normal control and insulin-treated diabetic groups. Specifically, C. longa extract (turmeric) has proved to be a potent antihyperglycemia, anti-anaemic and antioxidant extract.

diabetes, turmeric, Vernonia amygdalina, antioxidants, hematology, insulin, streptozotocin, Wistar rats