Administration of Aspirin and Aqueous Leaf Extract of Terminalia Catappa Reduces Leukocytosis with Risk of Developing Thrombocytosis in DiabeticWistar Rats

INTRODUCTION: Leucocytosis, inflammation, and thrombocytosis are major risk factors for diabetes mellitus. This study investigates the effects of administering aspirin, meloxicam, or Terminalia catappa leaf extract on leucocyte count and platelet indices in patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM). METHODS: Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to seven groups of six rats each. The control group received 5 ml/kg of distilled water orally, while the DM was induced with 150 mg/Kg alloxan. The DM+ Terminalia Catappa (TC) group was administered 130 mg/kg, while the DM+Aspirin and DM+Meloxicam groups were administered aspirin (30 mg/kg) and meloxicam (2 mg/kg) orally, respectively. DM+TC+Aspirin and DM+TC+Meloxicam groups received Terminalia catappa in addition to aspirin and meloxicam, respectively, for 14 days. RESULTS: Total WBC, neutrophil and eosinophil counts, tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 increased significantly (p <0.05), while lymphocytes, monocytes, platelet counts, and platelet indices decreased significantly (p <0.05) in the diabetic group. The raised parameters were significantly (p <0.05) reduced by aspirin, meloxicam, and Terminalia catappa extract compared with the diabetic control group. They were also significantly (p <0.05) reduced in DM-treated with extract and aspirin. Platelet counts and MPV were raised (p < 0.05) in the T. catappa, aspirin, and meloxicam + extract groups compared to the control and diabetic groups. DISCUSSION: T. catappa extract and aspirin ameliorated inflammation due to their active phytochemicals. CONCLUSION: Extract of Terminalia catappa, in combination with aspirin, reduced WBC count but increased platelet indices. This indicates the potential of the extract to reduce inflammation in diabetes mellitus, but with the risk of thrombocytosis.