Authors : Okparaoka Samuel Uchechukwu, E. Iyare Eghosa, Anyaehie Ugochukwu Bond and Ugwu Ngozi Immaculata
Abstract: Medicinal plants can be used for the synthesis of useful drugs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the haematological changes in albino wistar rats treated with graded doses of alcoholic polyherbal formulation (action bitter). Albino wistar rats were assigned into four groups: a control group (A) that received only distilled water while the 3 test groups B, C and D received 100, 200 and 300 mg kg–1 dose of action bitter respectively, daily for 3 months. Blood sample was collected from all groups and Packed Cell Volume (PCV), White Blood Cell (WBC) count, platelet count were determined. Action bitter was also analysed for heavy metal content. One hundred and twenty wistar rats, made up of 60 (50%) males and 60 (50%) females were used for the study. Among the males, PCV progressively increased with a mean±SD of 42.3±2.0% in the control group to 45.3±1.2%, 49.7±2.1% and 48.7±3.1 among groups B, C and D, respectively. Similarly, among female rats, mean PCV progressively increased from 44.0±0.0% in the control group to 46.0±2.8, 47±0.0 and 45.9±1.6% among groups B, C and D, respectively. In the same way, mean platelet count significantly increased progressively among male rats from 156±57×109 L–1 in the control group to 232±35, 257±41 and 291±10×109 L–1 among groups B, C and D (p<0.05). Females also showed similar result with progressive platelet increase from 228±17×109 L–1 in the control group to 240±51, 226±40 and 236±51×109 L–1 among group B, C and D, respectively. Additionally, WBC progressively decreased among males from mean value of 12.9±3×109 L–1 in the control group to 12.3±2, 10.1±1 and 11.5±2×109 L–1 among groups B, C and D, respectively. Females also had progressively lower WBC count from mean value of 10.9±3×109 L–1 among the control group to 10.2±4, 9.2±2 and 8.2±2×109 L–1 among groups B, C and D, respectively. Action bitter contain iron, zinc, copper and chromium at the level of 61.2, 1.74, 0.89 and 0.02 mg kg–1, respectively. Administration of action bitter to Albino wistar rats increased PCV and platelet count but decreased WBC count. Essential heavy metal content of action bitter includes iron, zinc, copper and chromium. Further studies are needed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of action bitter in management of anaemia and thrombocytopeania.
Okparaoka Samuel Uchechukwu, E. Iyare Eghosa, Anyaehie Ugochukwu Bond and Ugwu Ngozi Immaculata, 2021. Assessment of Haematological Changes in Albino Wistar Rats Following Oral Administration of Graded Doses of Alcoholic Polyherbal Formulation (Action Bitter). International Journal of Tropical Medicine, 16: 1-6.