Effects of Bermuda Grass (Cynodon dactylon) Extracts on Some Haematological Parameters of Streptozotocin-Induced Wistar Albino Rats

Abstract

Effects of Aqueous and Ethanolic extracts of Cynodon dactylon on some haematological parameters (Fasting blood glucose, packed cell volume, heamoglobin, red blood cell, white blood cell and Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ ratio) of streptozotocin – induced diabetic wistar albino rats were investigated. Diabetes was induced by treatment with streptozotocin. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Cynodon dactylon at varying concentrations (300mg, 500mg and 700mg/kg body weight) were administered to the diabetic rats, and the findings revealed that aqueous and ethanolic extract of herbal preparation decreased the fasting blood glucose. The decrease was time and concentration dependent with 500mg/kg b/wt of aqueous and 300mg/kg b/wt of ethanolic extracts as the most effective. Also there was a significantly decrease (p<0.05) in RBC concentration. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the grass was observed to have no effect on the PCV, Hb, WBC, and Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ ratio with respect to duration of treatment at different concentrations. The results of this study strongly suggest that Cynodon dactylon possess hypoglycemic properties, with no adverse significant (p>0.05) effect on other parameters studied and as such could be beneficial in the management of diabetes.

Keywords:Aqueous, Bermuda, blood, cell, fasting, glucose, ethanolic, extracts, grass.

Abbreviation:HDL- High density lipoprotein, LDL- Low density lipoprotein, STZ- Streptozotocin, TG- triglycerides.