Effects of extracts of anchomanes difformis on haematological parameters of albino wistar rats

摘要

This study evaluated the effects of hydro-methanol extracts of Anchomanes difformis on haematological parameters of male albino wistar rats. Twenty adult rats, weighing 150 g to 200 g, divided into 4 groups of 5 rats each were used for the study that lasted for 6 weeks. Group 1 which served as the control received normal rat feed and normal saline ad libitum while the test groups 2, 3, and 4 received 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg body weight of the extracts respectively, in addition to the normal rat chow and water ad libitum. Ether was used to anaesthetize the rats at the end of the second, fourth and sixth weeks respectively, and via cardiac puncture, blood samples were collected from all the rats in each group and analyzed for white blood cell (WBC) count, red blood cell (RBC) count, haemoglobin (HGB) concentration, haematocrit (HCT) count, lymphocyte (LYM) count, platelet (PLT) count and the calculated blood indices (MCV, MCH, MCHC). The results showed statistically significant dose dependent increase in WBC, LYM and PLT at the end of the second and fourth weeks compared to control (p<0.05). After the second week, MCHC also increased significantly while MCH decreased (p<0.05) compared to control. At the end of the sixth week, there were statistically significant reductions in HGB and HCT while MCHC and PLT increased marginally (p<0.05) compared to control. In conclusion, hydro-methanol extracts of Anchomanes difformis increased the levels of most of the haematological indices of male rats in first 2-4 weeks of administrations, followed by a steady decline of the blood indices assayed for at the end of the sixth week. Anchomanes difformis should therefore be used with caution especially on long term basis as it may depress haemopoesis.