Haematological Modulatory Effects of Ethanol Leaf Fractions of Sida acuta and Ficus exasperata, Alone and in Combination, in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Wistar Rats

Abstract

This study evaluated the haematological modulatory effects of ethanol leaf fractions of Sida acuta and Ficus exasperata, singly and in combination, in alloxan-induced diabetic female Wistar rats. Sixty-three female rats were divided into nine groups (n = 7): A, normal control; B, untreated diabetic control; C, glibenclamide at 0.29 mg/kg; D and E, S. acuta at 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively; F and G, F. exasperata at 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively; H, combined 200 mg/kg (100 mg/kg of each fraction); and I, combined 400 mg/kg (200 mg/kg of each fraction). Except for Group A, all groups were diabetic. Diabetes was induced with a single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg body weight), and treatments lasted for 28 days. Blood was collected into ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid bottles and analysed using an automated haematology analyser. Compared with Group A, Group B showed reduced haemoglobin concentration (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell count and platelet count, with increased total white blood cell count (WBC). Hb and PCV decreased from 12.23 ± 0.78 g/dL and 43.05 ± 2.10% in Group A to 10.65 ± 0.27 g/dL and 37.23 ± 1.20% in Group B. Group I produced Hb and PCV values of 12.23 ± 0.56 g/dL and 44.68 ± 1.43%, respectively, and reduced WBC to 6.44 ± 1.67 × 10⁹/L. Group G had the highest platelet count, at 1061.00 ± 231.83 × 10⁹/L. The fractions produced dose- and treatment-dependent changes in selected haematological indices, with Group I showing the most favourable responses in Hb, PCV and WBC.