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Background: Vernonia amygdalina is among one of the most used medicinal plants with a higher safety and effi cacy in managing a wide array of medical ailments. The objective of this study is to evaluate the subacute effects of the methanolic crude leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina on the hematological profi le in Albino Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty Albino rats were used for the study. They were equally grouped into fi ve groups: A (control), B, C, D, and E groups. The test (B, C, D, and E) groups were gavaged with doses (10, 15, 25, and 40 mg/kg body weight, respectively) of Vernonia amygdalina leaf methanolic extract once daily, for nine days. Two milliliters of blood was collected from two animals each from each group on days three, six, and nine, for the determination of the hematological profi le using a hematology analyzer. Results: Mean cell hemoglobin mean value showed a statistically signifi cant increase (P < 0.05) in group C (15 mg/kg body weight). Similarly, a statistically signifi cant increase (P < 0.01) was recorded in group E (40 mg/kg body weight) on day three, when compared with the control group A (untreated). However, only the mean value of the platelet count revealed a statistically signifi cant decrease (P < 0.05) in group D (25 mg/kg body weight) on day six, when compared with the control. Conclusion: The subacute administration of Vernonia amygdalina methanolic crude leaf extract does not possess hematopoietic activities.

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Saponins are pharmacologically active compounds that have been shown to ameliorate abnormal physiological processes and be aptly applied in folklore for the treatment of maladies occasioned by infectious agents. Consequently, saponins from Vitex doniana and Pentaclethra macrophylla were evaluated for antibacterial properties, as these herbs are used in folk medicine. Dried pulverized plant materials were defatted, and solvents with varying polarity were applied at varying ratios for the extraction of saponins. Phyto-chemistry was in accordance with standard methods, while an antibacterial assay was made through the agar well diffusion and micro broth dilution techniques. Phytochemical quantitation showed high concentrations of tannins, 231˘0.6 CE/g, and saponins, 58% from V. doniana. Similarly, P. macrophylla stem bark extract also showed high concentrations of tannins, 309˘2.42 CE/g, alkaloids, 71%˘0.5%, and saponins, 87%˘3.4%. The ethanol extracts of V. doniana inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 11775) and a clinical strain with inhibition zone ranges of 15.5˘2.12 to 7.0˘0.0 (mm) against leaf extracts and 20.0˘1.41 to 7.0˘0.0 (mm) against stem bark extracts. Conversely, saponin extract from V. doniana showed a broad spectrum of activity, as it inhibited both Gram-negative and -positive test strains, E. coli clinical strain (20.0˘1.41 mm), P. aeruginosa clinical strain (18.5˘0.71 mm), E. coli ATCC 11775 (17.0˘0 mm), and S. aureus clinical strain (13.0˘1.41 mm). However, a broad spectrum was similarly achieved with P. macrophylla extracts, as all test bacteria genus was susceptible. Saponin fractions showed a high potency and broad spectrum antibacterial activity and thus a validation of the folklore applications and the potential for use as a drug or drug scaffold.

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