Effect of Chronic Consumption of Cannabis Sativa Extract on Some Haematological Parameters in Wistar Rats

The use of cannabis also known as marijuana is often an under-reported activity in our society. Despite legal restriction, cannabis is still used by 10% – 15% of the world’s population and chronic use could lead to psychotropic and physical adverse effects with a propensity for addiction. Population studies have also associated cannabis use with decreased pulmonary function, chronic obstructive airway diseases, and pulmonary infections. However, smoking raw cannabis remains the most common and easiest route of intake but oral extract of cannabis has better evidence of relieving self-reported symptoms of spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis while the efficacy of smoked cannabis has been studied for Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, glaucoma, pain, with good evidence for clinical benefits in alleviating chronic and HIV-induced neuropathic pain. In this study, fifteen (15) adult, male wistar rats, weighing 200-300g were used to test for the EFFECT OF CHRONIC CONSUMPTION OF CANNABIS SATIVA EXTRACT ON SOME HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS. The animals comprised of 3 groups i.e. control group and two test groups; the Low Dose (LD) and High Dose (HD) groups. All the animals in the two test groups (Low Dose and High Dose) daily received oral 1mg/100g body weight and 250mg/kg body weight of Cannabis sativa leaf extract for twenty-eight (28) days while the control group were fed with normal rat chow and water ad libitum without cannabis after an acclimatization period of seven (7) days, respectively. After 21 days, blood samples were obtained in all the animals by cardiac puncture technique for assessment of haematological parameters [Red Blood Cell Count (RBC), Haemoglobin Estimation (Hb), Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and Osmotic fragility]. It was observed that there was no significant decrease (P<0.01; P<0.05) in RBC Count of the HD group when compared with the LD and Control group, respectively. Haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and PCV were not significantly different in all groups while Osmotic fragility was seen to be statistically significant between the LD and HD groups when compared with the Control at 0.55 and 0.6 percentage NaCl Concentrations, respectively. It can therefore be deduced that consumption of Cannabis sativa may be therapeutic but chronic consumption of it has effect on the body’s defence mechanism that may lead to anaemia and reduced immunity.