Objective:This study aims to elucidate the effect of Ocimum gratissimum on hematological parameters in rats.Materials and Methods:Thirty male albino Wistar rats were randomly assigned into three groups of ten rats each. Group 1 was control, while groups 2 (LD) and 3 (HD) received 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg body weight, respectively, of the extract orally once daily. Rats in all three groups received normal rat chow and drinking water ad libitum for 28 days. Complete blood count was done using an automatic counter.Results:The HD group had significantly (P<.05) higher red blood cell (RBC) counts, packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb), and platelet counts as compared with the control and LD groups. No significant changes were observed in the total white blood cell (WBC) count of the three groups, but significantly (P<.05) lower lymphocyte and higher neutrophil counts were observed in the HD group compared with the LD group. The mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet–large cell ratio (P–LCR), and platelet distribution width (PDW) were significantly (P<.05) reduced in the HD compared with the LD group. The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and RBC distribution width–standard deviation were significantly (P<.05) lower in the HD group than in control. No significant changes were observed in levels of mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and RBC distribution width–coefficient of variation among the groups.Conclusion:We conclude that oral administration of O gratissimum increases RBC, PCV, Hb, platelet count, and neutrophils and also leads to a decrease in platelet indices (i.e., MPV, P–LCR, and PDW).

Summary: Haematotoxic implications of exposure to petroleum fumes through inhalation in human subjects were investigated. A total of 400 subjects (200 males and 200 females) aged between 18-30 years participated. Each gender was further categorized into two groups of 100 each for control and test, respectively. The test group was again subdivided into test 1 (T1) and test 2 (T2) in both sexes. T1 subjects were exposed to petroleum fumes for two years and below while T2 subjects were exposed for more than two years. Samples of blood were collected daily and subjected to haematological analysis. The results obtained showed that in males and females, red blood cell counts (10 6 /mm 3 ) was significantly (P<0.001) decreased in T1 (4.4 ± 0.13) and T2 (3.85 ±0.07) compared to control (4.76 ± 0.01). There was a significant decrease (P<0.01) in white blood cell counts, haematocrit, haemoglobin concentration, mean corpusclular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in both sexes of test groups when compared with control. There was also a significant (P<0.001) decrease in mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) in test 2 males compared with control. Most subjects exposed for longer than two years (T2) had significantly (P<0.001) lower values of red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit than those exposed for less than two years. The odds/odds ratio that a subject would become anaemic progressively rose from less than 1 in the control to greater than 1 or infinity on exposure to petroleum fumes. These results indicate that the petroleum fumes cause a reduction in haematological indices which worsens with prolonged exposure.

Background:There are previous independent reports on the anti-thyroid property of Citrus sinensis. This isoflavones and phenolic acid-rich natural agent is widely consumed as dietary supplement, thus the need to investigate its comparative effect with a standard anti-thyroid drug on T4, T3 and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels.Objective:To compare the effect of Citrus sinensis and carbimazole (CARB) on blood levels of thyroid hormones (T4 and T3) and TSH.Materials and Methods:Male wistar albino rats weighing 100-150 g were employed in this research. The rats were randomly assigned to four groups of seven rats per group. Group I served as control and were administered distilled water while groups II-IV were administered with 1500 mg/kg of Citrus sinensis (fresh orange juice; FOJ), 0.1 μg/g of levothyroxine (LVT) and 0.01 mg/g of CARB, respectively, per oral once daily for 28 days. The animals were sacrificed under chloroform anaesthesia and blood sample collected by cardiac puncture and processed by standard method to obtain serum. TSH, T4 and T3 were assayed with the serum using ARIA II automated radioimmunoassay instrument.Results:The results showed that TSH level was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in LVT treated group compared with the FOJ group. T4 was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in the FOJ and CARB groups compared with the control and LVT groups. LVT significantly increased T4 when compared with FOJ group. T3 was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in the CARB group compared with the control.Conclusion:These findings suggest that FOJ alters thyroid hormones metabolism to reduce their serum levels with a compensatory elevations of TSH level in a direction similar to CARB.

Many herbal medicinal products contribute to the treatment of malaria in endemic areas. In Ghana, there is documented evidence of the use of several plant species in the management of both infectious and non-infectious diseases. This study sought to validate the activity of extracts from two such plants, Phyllanthus amarus and Moringa oleifera, against Plasmodium falciparum. Anti-plasmodial activities of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of M. oleifera (whole plant and twig) and P. amarus (whole plant and stem) were assessed against the 3D7 laboratory strain of P. falciparum. Extracts were evaluated in vitro at concentrations of 12.5, 25, 50, 100 µg mLG 1 and the level of potency in each case was expressed as the concentration of the extract that inhibited 50% of the parasites (IC 50 ) relative to negative controls (100% parasitaemia). Artesunate was used as a positive standard in all assays. All extracts showed significant inhibition of parasite growth, with (IC 0 ) less than 50 µg mLG 1 , except the aqueous extract of the whole plant of P. amarus which showed a relatively high IC 50 of 115.43 µg mLG 1 . Interestingly, increasing concentration of ethanolic extract of combined twig and leaves of Moringa oleifera reduced inhibition of the parasite growth while a decreasing extract concentration resulted in increased parasite inhibition. The extracts of M. oleifera and P. amarus demonstrated potential anti-plasmodial activity which can be explored in malaria therapy. It is of interest to identify, isolate and characterize the active anti-plasmodial bioactive compounds from the plants.

High salt loading is associated with myriad deleterious effects including alterations in blood parameters, cardiovascular risk and sudden death. This study explored the impact of Moringa oleifera on some blood parameters in high salt loaded rats. Twenty four male albino Wistar rats were assigned into 4 groups of 6 rats each. They were fed on either control diet, high salt diet (8% NaCl diet+1% NaCl drinking water) and/or Moringa extract (600 mg kgG 1 b.wt. orally, once daily) ad libitum for 6 weeks. Blood samples were obtained via cardiac puncture for full blood count measurement using automated blood counter. Results revealed that the high salt fed untreated rats had significant increases in their total WBC, RBC, platelet counts, PCV, lymphocytes, P-LCR, MPV and PDW. These increases were reversed to near control levels by Moringa. Also, Moringa reversed lowered, MCHC platelet and neutrophil counts in high salt loaded rats. Values obtained for control group include: RBC (7.02±0.16×10 6 cell μLG 1 ), total WBC (8.08±0.80×10 3 cell μLG 1 ), PCV (40.30±1.14%), platelet count (673.17±18.89×10 3 cell μLG 1 ), RDW-SD (35.70±0.32 fL). In conclusion, Moringa oleifera extract prevents changes in total WBC, RBC count, packed cell volume (hematocrit), platelet count, lymphocytes, neutrophils, MPV, P-LCR and PDW in high salt fed rats, these parameters are determinants of the blood volume, hemostasis and the tendencies to excessive bleeding, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and sudden death.