Antianaemic Effects Ofmyrianthus Serratusstem Bark Extract in Phenylhydrazine-Induced Haemolytic Anaemia in Wistar Rats

The stem bark of Myrianthus serratus is used in northern Nigerian ethnomedicine to treat anaemia. This study evaluated the effect of its aqueous stem bark extract (AEMS) on haematological, hepatorenal, and oxidative stress markers in phenylhydrazine (PHZ)-induced haemolyticanaemia. A randomised, controlled design was used in 47 adult Wistar rats. Acute oral toxicity was assessed up to 5000 mg/kg by the Lorke method. Anaemia was induced with PHZ (35 mg/kg bw) and confirmed haematologically before treatment. Rats were randomly allocated to five groups (n = 7/group) receiving distilled water, AEMS (200 or 400 mg/kg bw) or vitamin E orally by gavage for 21 days; a non-anaemic group served as normal control. Blood was collected at termination for haematological indices, serum biochemical markers, and antioxidant activities. Data were analysed by one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post-hoc test (SPSS v24.0), with significance at p < 0.05. AEMS caused no deaths or signs of toxicity up to 5000 mg/kg. At 400 mg/kg, AEMS raised RBC count and haematocrit relative to untreated anaemic rats, matching vitamin E, but did not raise haemoglobin; 200 mg/kg had no effect on RBC count. Both doses normalised PHZ-elevated red cell indices, leukocyte and lymphocyte counts, AST, ALT, total bilirubin, urea and creatinine (p < 0.05), with larger effects at 400 mg/kg. AEMS lowered TBARS by 40–45% and returned serum catalase and GSH towards control values. AEMS is of low acute toxicity and partially corrects PHZ-induced erythrocyte loss while protecting the liver and kidney, plausibly by limiting oxidative haemolysis