Modulation of Immunological and Hematological Disturbances of Diabetes Mellitus by Diets Containing Combined Leaves of Vernonia amygdalina and Gongronema latifolium

Background: Immunological and hematological alterations often occur in diabetes mellitus as a result of oxidative stress. This study investigated the effects of consumption of diets containing Vernonia amygdalina leaves on some markers of immunology and hematology in Streptozotocin -induced diabetic wistar rats with the view to evaluating its involvement in the management of immunological and hematological complications among diabetics.
Method: The design consisted of eighty rats randomly divided into eight groups of 10 rats per group. Groups 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7 and 8 were diabetic, while group 1 was normal control. Groups 1 and 2 were fed with control diet. Group 3 to 7 were fed with diets containing Vernonia amygdalina, or Gongronema latifolium or combined leaves of Vernonia amygdalina and Gongronema latifolium. Group 8 was fed with the control diet but treated with Insulin. Feed and water were given ad- libitum for 28 days.
Results: Results showed that diabetic rats consuming diets of Vernonia amygdalina, Gongronema latifolium leaves or the combined leaves diets all had significant (P<0.05) increase in the red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin, and lymphocyte counts relative to the diabetic control. All the diets resulted in significant (P<0.05) reduction in the level of white blood cell (WBC), platelets, neutrophil, and CD4+ cell count relative to the diabetic control. The results for Vernonia amygdalina and Gongronema latifolium diets were similar to insulin on the measured parameters and their levels were not significantly different (P<0.05) when compared to the normal control. Diets containing combined leaves of Vernonia amygdalina and Gongronema latifolium performed better than insulin and the measured parameters were numerically equals to the normal control.
Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicate that consumption of diets containing Vernonia amygdalina or Gongronema latifolium leaves or in combination at the levels in this study have significant role in ameliorating hematological and immunological disturbances associated with diabetes mellitus. The combined leaf diet performed better due to positive synergy among the leaves bioactive agents. Consumption of diets containing Vernonia amygdalina or Gongronema latifolium leaves or in combination may be recommended as dietary therapies for management of immunological and hematological complications in diabetes mellitus.