The effect of some green leafy vegetable diets on haematological parameters of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was investigated. 16% vegetable inclusion (Occimum gratissimum,Pterocarpus soyauxii,Corchorus olitorius and Vernonia amygdalina) in the basal diets of streptocotozin-induced diabetic rats for 21 days resulted in modulation of haematological parameters. The results showed that there was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the levels of Packed cell volume(PCV), Haemoglobin (Hb),white blood cell(WBC), red blood cell(RBC), platelets and neutrophils counts of the diabetic rats without vegetable-formulated diets when compared to the control. However, a significant increase of these hematological indices was observed in the groups fed with vegetable-diet. Lymphocytes, eosinophils, monocytes and basophils also showed significant difference(p<0.05) with increase in lymphocyte count. Among these vegetables, Pterocarpus soyauxii seems to be most promising. These results therefore suggest that green leafy vegetables are capable of normalising the hematological abnormalities associated with pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus.
