Blood Coagulation Tests and Platelets Counts in Diabetic Rats Treated with Ficus sur, Jatropha tanjorensis, Mucuna pruriens and Chromolaena odorata Leaf Extracts

Abstract

Aim: This study was designed to study the effects of leaves extracts of four indigenous Nigerian medicinal plants namely-Ficus sur, Jatropha tanjorensis, Mucuna pruriens and Chromolaena odorata on platelets counts and blood coagulation tests (bleeding and clotting times) in alloxan induced diabetic rats with a view to further assess their safety in the management of diabetes mellitus. Design: Animal experiments were carried out on whole animals in the Physiology Laboratory of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria. Methodology: Forty five diabetic rats were divided into 9 groups of 5 rats each (groups 2-9), while group 1 comprised of 5 normal rats. Treatment was assigned to each group with a specified extract and dosed. At the end of treatment period bleeding and clotting times as well as platelets counts was determined for each animal. Results: All doses of the extracts significantly (P