HAEMATOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF MEGAPHRYNIUM MACROSTACHYUM LEAF EXTRACT IN ALBINO RATS

Megaphrynium macrostachyum leaves are used traditionally to wrap food during cooking andserving. In this study, the effect of leaf aqueous extract of M. macrostachyum on haematologicalparameters (Haemoglobin, HB; Total white blood count, TWBC; Packed cell volume, PCV andPlatelet, PLT) was investigated using healthy albino rats. Rats in five groups were fed for 14 dayswith a basal diet modified with appropriate doses of leaf extract (100 – 400mg/kg body weight,respectively for groups 1- 4) while rats in group 5 served as the control and were not fed with leafextract. Blood samples from all the rats were collected by cardiac puncture after 14 days andanalyzed and the mean value for each parameter determined. The percentage increase or decreasein the parameter was calculated except for HB. The 100mg concentration (Group 1) had no effecton the animals. The HB value ranged from 12.09 to 13.34g/dl (for groups 1 – 3, respectively) anddecreased to 11.7 in Group 4, whereas the control had 11.7g/dl. On the other hand, percentageincreases in TWBC were 23.05, 11.8 and 12.43, respectively, for Groups 2, 3 and 4 animals. Theincrease in TWBC was significant (p <0.05). The PCV values also increased significantly (26.6,17.6 and 16.5%, respectively, for Groups 2, 3 and 4). However, the PLT count was significantlylowered by 200,300 and 400mg doses. Megaphrynium macrostachyum aqueous leaf extractshowed positive (haemopoietic) effects on PCV, HB and TWBC but repressive effect on PLT ofthe experimental rats.KEYWORDS: Activity, extract, haematology Megaphrynium, parameters.