Haematological effects of aqueous extract of Vernonia amygdalina in wistar rats

The present study assessed the haematological effects of aqueous extract of (Vernonia amygdalina) in wistar rats. Fifteen (15) adult Wistar rats were used in this study. The animals were divided into three groups of five rats each. Group 1: were given 1ml of distilled water and served as the control, Group 2: received 250mg/kg b w of V. amygdalina and Group 3: received 500mg/kg b w of V. amygdalina orally once daily for a period of twenty one days. A day after the last treatment the tail end of rats were disinfected using cotton wool soaked in methylated spirit and blood sample was collected for determination of haematological indices The result obtained from this study showed that V. amygdalina at all doses administered to animals produced no significant change (p>0.05) on the blood levels of red cell count, packed cell volume and total white blood cell count when compared to the control group. On the other hand, treatment of the animals with 250 and 500 mg/kg b w of V. amygdalina caused significantly decreased (p<0.05) blood level of neutrophil count when compared to the control group. However, V. amygdalina at tested doses of 250 and 500mg/kg b w produced a significantly increased (p<0.05) blood levels of lymphocyte, basophil, eosinophil and monocyte counts with a non significant change (p>0.05) observed only on the blood level of monocyte count at tested dose of 250mg/kg b w of V. amygdalina when compared to control group. In conclusion, the present work showed that aqueous extract of V. amygdalina produced significant effect on thedifferential white blood cell count especially on the blood level oflymphocyte count.However, the plant extract did not produceerythropoietic effects; hence the non significant effect observed onthe red cells count and packed cell volume respectively.

Haematological effects of aqueous extract of Vernonia amygdalina in wistar rats Keywords:

Lymphocytes , Neutrophils , Packed cell volume , Red cells , V. amygdalina , White blood cells