Anti-anemic Activity of Aqueous Root Bark Extract of Morinda lucida Benth against Phenylhydrazine-induced Hemolytic Anemia in Wistar Rats

Aims: Evaluate the anti-anemic potential of aqueous root bark extract of Morinda lucida against induced hemolytic anemia in Wistar rats in addition to its total phenol content and its acute toxicity. Study Design: Experimental Design. Place and Duration of Study: Laboratory of Biology and Health, Training and Research Unit Biosciences, Félix Houphouët-Boigny University of Abidjan, June 2024 to September 2024. Methodology: Total phenol content of aqueous root bark extract of Morinda lucida was determined using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. The acute toxicity test was performed according to OECD guideline no. 425. Anemia was induced in Wistar rats by intraperitoneal administration of phenylhydrazine at 40 mg/Kg bw for two days. The rats were orally treated during 21 days with 100 and 200 mg/kg bw of Morinda lucida extract and Ranferon® (anti-anemic drug) at 50 mg/kg bw. Blood was collected from all rats before and after induction of anemia, and then weekly during the treatment period to monitor changes in hematological parameters such as hemoglobin level, red blood cell count, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. Results: The results show that the aqueous root bark extract of Morinda lucida contains phenolic compounds, estimated at 0.169 ± 0.015 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract, and has low toxicity. In anti-anemic test, phenylhydrazine caused a significant reduction in hemoglobin level in rats, from 13.33 to 8.33 g/dL, with a disturbance in the other hematological parameters. After 15 days of treatment, hemoglobin levels significantly increased in rats treated with M. lucida extract at 100 mg/kg (13.27±0.26 g/dL) and Ranferon® (12.93±0.145 g/dL), comparable to normal controls (13.17±0.03 g/dL). There were also improvements in the other hematological parameters after two to three weeks treatment. Conclusion: These results show that Morinda lucida is effective in repairing phenylhydrazine-induced erythrocyte damage and highlight its anti-anemic potential.