A Preliminary Study of the Effect of Alchornea laxiflora on Haematological Parameters and Organ Weight in Albino Rats

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of ethanol extract of Alchornea laxiflora on internal organs as well as haematological indices of rats. Methodology: The plant materials were air dried and grinded mechanically followed by solvent (ethanol) percolation for 72 hrs. The resultant crude extracts were kept in sterile airtight bottles and stored in the refrigerator until use. Twenty albino rats were placed in four groups of five (5) rats each, group I, II and III were given 100, 200 and 300 mg/Kg body weight of the extract respectively while group IV received only water for a period of 21 days. Haematological indices such as White blood cells (WBCs), Red blood cells (RBCs), packed cell volume (PCV), Neutrophil, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, platelets, Haemoglobin (Hb) were assayed while the internal organs including heart, lungs, liver and kidneys were weighed in triplicates after blood collection. Results: The plant extract showed a significant (p<0.05) increase on the levels of red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), packed cell volume (PCV), platelet and haemoglobin concentration (Hb) at all the concentration used in the assay. The increase was observed along the concentration gradient. Moreover, the plant extract had a significant (p<0.05) reduction on neutrophyll level while a significant (p<0.05) increase was observed for monocytes and lymphocytes at concentration at 300 mg/kg body weight concentration. Also, there was no significant (p<0.05) difference in the weight of kidney of the control and experiment groups whereas there were increase in the weight of heart and lungs of group treated with 200 and 300 mk/kg body weight albeit, there was a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the weight of liver in all the treated groups. Conclusion: From the foregoing, A. laxiflora extract appears to possess haematopoietic activity albeit with possible adverse effect on some major internal organs of rats at high doses therefore caution should be applied in its use in the management anaemic conditions in traditional medicine system as blood tonic.