Hematological Changes Following Oral Administration of Aqueous Root Bark Extract of Salacia lehmbachii in Albino Rats

Objective: This study investigated the effects of oral administration of aqueous root bark extract of Salacia lehmbachii on some haematological indices in albino rats.

Methodology: Twenty-four male rats weighing 180-200 g were randomly divided into four groups, labeled 1-4 and each group contained six rats. Group 1 (control) received 2 mL of distilled water while groups 2, 3 and 4 had 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg body weight of aqueous root bark extract of Salacia lehmbachii respectively. The extract was prepared from Soxhlet extraction of petroleum ether defatted plant residue using water. Administration was through an oral gavage for 28 days. At the end of experimentation period, animals were anaesthetized by placing each in an air tight desiccator containing cotton wool soaked with chloroform and blood samples collected by cardiac puncture using sterile needles attached to 5 mL syringes into ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) bottles for haematological studies using automated haemanalyzer.

Results: There was a significant (p<0.05) increase in RBC count in groups 3 (8.720.08 x106) and 4 (8.970.07x 106), when compared to the control (6.670.24 x 106). Haemoglobin level (g/dl) in treated groups were significantly (p<0.05) raised to 13.59±0.11, 15.07±0.21 and 16.55±0.31 respectively compared to control (12.81±0.11). PCV was increased from 40.071.51 (control) to 43.070.71 (group 2), 45.961.12 (group 3) and 49.93 1.69 (group 4). RBC indices in treated rats were not statistically different from control. WBC count was significantly (p<0.05) increased in groups 2 (10.55±0.41x103), 3 (13.43±1.02 x103) and 4 (18.38±1.46 x 103) compared to control (8.55±0.99 x103). Platelet count (x 103 cells/µL) was significantly (p<0.05) raised in groups 2 (840.670.04), 3(925.440.07) and 4 (962.330.05) compared to control (703.830.04).

Conclusion: Findings in this study have shown that the aqueous root bark extract of Salacia lehmbachii increases haematopoietic parameters.