Phytochemical and Heamatological Profile of Methanol Extracts of Morinda citrofolia Leaves in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Blood is an essential body fluid comprising blood plasma and blood cells. These blood cells are essential heamatological components necessary for healthy bodily function. These hematological parameters can deviate from their normal ranges for various reasons, which can have adverse effects. The study is aimed to evaluate the phytochemical and heamatological profile of methanol extracts of morinda citrofolia leaves in wistar rats. The heamatological study lasted for 21days and comprised of four groups with eighteen (18) rats each. Group 1 received 1 mL normal saline (control), Group 2 received 100 mg/kg body weight of methanol extract of M.citrifolia leaves, Group 3 received 200 mg/kg body weight of methanol extract of M.citrifolia leaves and Group 4 received 400mg/kg of body weight of methanol extract of M. citrifolia leaves. Blood samples were collected weekly from six(6) rats per group for three (3) weeks for heamatological studies. Phytochemical evaluation (Qualitative and quantitative), haematological parameter; (Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Erythrocytes (RBC) Count, White Blood Cells (WBC) Count, Heamoglobin Concentration (Hb), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) andMean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH)were conducted using standard laboratory procedures. The phytochemical profile of methanol extracts of Morinda citrifolia leaves revealed high presence of Alkaloids (+++). Moderate Saponins, Phlobacternins, Reducing Sugars and Volatile oils were detected. The quantitative phytochemical analysis correlated with the qualitative which revealed the concentration of 1540 ± 14.34 mg/100g for alkaloids and flavonoids (734 ± 11.32 mg/100g) as most abundant. Group 3 (45.00±8.49) and 4 (44.50±4.34) revealed a significant (p≤0.05) increase in week 3 for PCV. Red blood cells (RBC) (x1017/L) significantly (p≤0.05) increased in Group 2 (59.50±2.83) at week 3. Group 4 significantly (p≤0.05) increased in WBC (×1011/L) (51.00±1.41), Hb (g/dl) (15.00±2.83) and MCH (pg) (11.86.±2.00) in week 3. Thus, prolong consumption of methanol extracts of Morinda citrifolia leaves extract may effectively improve haematological parameters.