The Effects of Oral Administration of an Aqueous Extract of Ficus bengalensis Stem Bark on Some Hematological and Biochemical Parameters in Rats with Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes

The effects of sub-chronic administration of an aqueous extract of Ficus bengalensis stem bark on hematological and biochemical parameters in rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes were evaluated. The possible protective effect of the F. bengalensis (500 mg/kg of body weight per day) extract on STZ-induced changes was evaluated over 12 weeks. The parameters evaluated were plasma proteins, including total protein albumin and globulin, non-protein nitrogenous substances, including urea, uric acid, and creatinine, and hematological indices, including total hemoglobin content, erythrocytes, leucocytes, and platelets counts. The aqueous extract had a significant (P 0.05) protective effect against STZ-induced changes in terms of the markers of protein metabolism and hematological indices. Furthermore, increases in levels of non-protein nitrogenous substances were normalized in response to the administration of the extract. Thus, the aqueous extract of F. bengalensis had a significant protective effect on STZinduced changes to biochemical and hematological parameters in the diabetic rats.