Hematological Alterations Occurring in Culinary Exposure of Wistar Rats to Some Indigenous Plants

Abstract

Background: Traditional medicine has been regarded as a suitable alternative to modern medicine considering the wide acceptance and availability of herbal products across the globe. Many plants have shown hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and Insulinogenic properties. However, there is a dearth of information on the hematological alterations following acute culinary exposure of normal rats to these selected medicinal plants. Objectives: This study sought to examine the hematological alterations in Wistar albino rats after culinary exposure to some selected plants with a claim of having medicinal values. Testing of hematological indices can be used to determine the extent of the deleterious effect of foreign compounds including plant extracts on the blood composition of animals. Certain medicinal plants and herbs are believed to enhance health and improve resistance against infection through conditioning the body tissues and re-establishing body equilibrium. Methods: In this study, male albino rats of the Wistar strain were fed diets containing 30% and 70% of weight/weight of plant and animal feeds-Mangifera indica, Peperomia pellucida, Momordica foetida, and Tapinanthus bangwensi -for four days before being killed by cervical dislocation. By puncturing the heart, blood samples were obtained. Using the Auto-Haematology analyzer (URTI) 3300, the significant hematological parameters were examined. Packed Cell Volume (PCV), White Blood Count (WBC), Platelets, and other measurements are among the hematology parameters. Results: The extracts of M. indica, M. foetida, and Viscum album increased red blood cells (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), and hemoglobin (Hb), among other hematological changes of importance that were seen in the data. Additionally, M. foetida and V. album extracts boosted platelet count. Conclusions: In addition to demonstrating the nontoxic effects of these plants when consumed in moderation, this study provides a key to unlocking novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of anemia and bleeding.