ABSTRACT

BSTRACT This study investigated the effect of methanol extract of Justicia carnea and almond leaves on the haematological status of anaemic wistar rats. The methanol extracts of justicia camel and almond leaves were prepared using standard method. The various methanol extracts were analyzed for their proximate composition, mineral content, vitamin content, and phytochemical composition.Thirty adult rats were randomly assigned to 6 groups of 5 rats each, and were induced with anaemia using 50 mg/mL of phenyl-hydrazine. Blood samples were collected and analysed to establish anaemia before treatment. One group received standard treatment using fesolate at 100 mg/kg body weight (STD 1 00mg11cg), another group received no treatment, while the remaining 4 groups received J carnea and almond leaves extracts each at 300 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg bodyweight (JC300»ea, JC500gs, AL300gg and AL500gg). Their effects on haemoglobin levels, packed cell volume, red blood cell count, and other haematological parameters were evaluated. The proximate composition results revealed value ranges of moisture content (51.84-55.45%), crude protein (5.87- 6.43%), fat (0.24-0.29%), crude fibre (0.12-0.16%), ash (1.42-1.67%), carbohydrates (36.88-39.60%), and energy (173.16-186.74 kcal). Mineral analysis showed ranges of iron (0.80-0.85 mg/l00g), zinc (0.64-0.71 mg/l00g), calcium (72.62-83.75 mg/l00g), potassium (124.77-132.79 mg/I00g), and sodium (32.82-33.71 mg/l00g). Vitamin analysis revealed ranges of vitamin C (20.63-25.07 mg/l00g). vitamin E (3.51-5.20 mg/100g), and vitamin B12 (3.68-4.47 mg/1 00g). Phytochcmical analysis showed ranges of tannins (2. 70-4.06 mg/1 00g), phytate (0.51-0.99 mg/I 00g), saponin (2.45-2.53 mg/l 00g), oxalate (3.60-3.67 mg/l00g), alkaloid ( 1.11-2.61 mgil 00g), flavonoid (l .53-2.01 mg/ 1 00g), and phenol (2.26-2.76 mg/l00g). The results also showed that both extracts significantly improved haematological parameters, increasing haemoglobin levels (31.71-49.16%), packed cell volume (73.39-91.87%), and red blood cell count (54.61-80.79%), while decreasing total white blood cell count (15.38-29.57%). The extracts also showed a significant decrease in mean corpuscular haemoglobin levels (11.25-18.12%) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (16.79-24.87%). These findings suggest that Justicia carnea and almond leaf extracts have potential therapeutic effects in managing anaemia, and warrant further investigation for their potential use as alternative treatments.