Abstract
This study was designed to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of Thymus serpyllum Linn. on blood glucose level, body weight, and some hematological parameters of alloxan induced diabetic rabbits for a period of one month. It was found that the aqueous extract significantly (P < 0.01) reduced the blood glucose level in diabetic rabbits. This decrease in blood glucose level was comparable to the effect of standard drugs glibenclamide and acarbose. The aqueous extract also maintained the body weight of alloxanized rabbits. Significant increase was observed in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and monocytes level in the diabetic treated rabbits as compared to the diabetic control non-treated group. ESR and monocytes level were significantly increased, whereas red blood cells (RBCs), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), neutrophils, hemoglobin (Hb) level, and platelets were significantly decreased in diabetic control non-treated rabbits, while these parameters in aqueous extract treated diabetic rabbits were comparable with normal control group. In conclusion, oral administration of aqueous extract of T. serpyllum produced hypoglycemic effects in alloxan-diabetic-rabbits, protected weight loss, and ameliorated diabetic-induced hematological disturbances in rabbits. Key words: Diabetes, hematological parameters, hypoglycemia, Thymus serpyllum Linn
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease that leads to other serious metabolic disorders as the disease progresses
Anemia resulted in diabetic patients due to the hemolysis of red blood cells (RBCs) (Kennedy and Baynes, 1984)
Aqueous extract of T. serpyllum significantly (P < 0.01) reduced the blood glucose level of diabetic rabbits treated for 30 days
Summary
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease that leads to other serious metabolic disorders as the disease progresses. It has been reported that, ingestion of medicinal plants or drugs can alter the normal hematological values (Ajagbonna et al, 1999). Hematological parameters could be an important tool in the assessment of deleterious effect of drugs, as well as medicinal plants (Yakubu et al, 2007). Traditional plant medicines are used throughout the globe for the treatment of various types of diseases, including diabetes (Nagappa et al, 2003). Researches on medicinal plants are very popular in the medical, as well as biological sciences, because of their availability and increase usage throughout the world. Most of these plants have not been
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