PHYTOCONSTITUENTS, ACUTE TOXICITY AND THE EFFECT OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF Azanza garckeana (MALVACEAE) ON THE HAEMATOLOGICAL INDICES OF ADULT WISTAR RATS

Azanza garckeana is a tropical shrub and fruit-bearing tree. The plant belongs to the Malvaceae family (F. Hoffm) Exell & Hillc and a semi-decidious flowering plant that grows in Savannah-wooded grasslands and open forests. All parts of the plant are useful for both medical and economic purposes. One (1) kg of the powdered material was used and the methanol crude extract of the plant material was obtained by the Soxhlet extraction process. This study aimed to determine the effect of methanol extract of A. garckeana on different haematological indices were also explored which include red blood cells, White blood cells (WBC), and differential leucocyte count (DLC). Adult albino rats were divided into five (5) groups of five each. Groups 1 to 3 received 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of Azanza garckeana respectively. Group 4 received 5 mL/kg distilled water and served as the normal control while Group 5 received 2.5 mL/kg of Astyfer. The different doses of the methanol extract were administered to the animals orally for three weeks. On day 0 and 21, blood samples were collected and subjected to haematological tests. At the end of this study, it was observed that the extract increased the levels of haemoglobin and red blood cells without showing a significant increase in the total WBC count, and differential leucocyte count. The extract’s phytochemical study revealed the presence of many phytochemical elements, including reducing sugar, terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, saponins, and tannins. No alkaloid was found. The plant is not fatal, according to the acute toxicity assessment, and the extract is deemed to be rather harmless. Flavonoids and tannins were responsible for the methanol extract’s haematological characteristics. When compared to the negative and positive control groups, the methanol extract did not result in a statistically significant (p<0.05) rise in the albino rats’ PCV, WBC, lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, and neutrophil counts at the dose levels examined. The myth surrounding the usage of the herb to cure low blood level conditions is dispelled by this study.