Ameliorating Effects of Annona Muricata Leaf Extract on Hematological Parameters in Male Wistar Rats

This study aims to determine the ameliorating effects of annona muricata leaf extract in heamatological parameters in male wistar rats. A total of 78 adult male rats obtained from the laboratory animal production unit of the Department of Physiology, Abia State University, Uturu were used for the different segments of the study. Eighteen of the rats were used for acute toxicity/lethal dose evaluation of the extract while the remaining sixty (60) were used for the testosterone-induced hyperplasia study. Prostate hyperplasia was induced in the rats via daily sub-cutaneous administration of testosterone propionate (5 mg/kg body weight) for 28 days. Sixty rats used for this segment of the study were assigned to 6 groups of 10 rats and treated as follows: Group 1, Normal control, no treatment. Group 2 Testosterone propionate (5 mg/kg) only and was the BPH control. Group 3, Testosterone propionate (5 mg/kg bw) + Finesteride (3 mg/kg body weight). Group 4, Testosterone propionate (5 mg/kg bw) + Annona Muricata Leaf extract (300 mg/kg body weight). Group 5, Testosterone propionate (5 mg/kg bw) + Annona Muricata Leaf extract (600 mg/kg body weight). Group 6, Annona Muricata Leaf extract (600 mg/kg bw) only. At the end of treatment, animals were sacrificed, and blood samples were collected into EDTA and plain bottles for Haematological analysis of the blood samples was performed in an automated haematology analyzer (BC-2300 model, Mindray Medical Co., China) with the procedure carried as specified by the producer. The parameters which were evaluated included: red blood cells count (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV); mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH); mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC); platelets (PLT); total leukocytes count (TLC) count and differential leukocytes count(WBC) counts were obtained at once for each blood sample. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, Version 20.0, IBM SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Using One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), the level of significance was determined. To compare the means of the different doses and fractions, the Duncan Multiple Range Test was used to evaluate the data, and the Student's t test was used as a post-hoc test. P-values below 0.05 were regarded as statistically significant differences for the measured value between the test groups and the control group. In this investigation, the administration of Annona muricata extract kept hematological parameters within physiological ranges and reliably controlled differential white blood cell counts.