Comparative Effect Of Methanol Extract Of Spondias Mombin Leaves And Synthetic Antimalaria Drug (Artesunate) On Haematological Parameter In Normal Male Albino Rats:- Mazi Obinna W

ABSTRACT xii This study is to investigate the biochemical effect of methanol extract of Spondias mombin (SpM) (a natural antimalarial drug) and Artesunate (a Synthetic antimalarial drug) on haematological parameters, body and relative organ weight in normal male albino rats.The toxicity study of artesunate and plant extract as well as the phytochemical analysis of the plant leave was also carried out using standard and scientific method. The rats for the study was divided into 5 groups ofsix (6) each, Group 1 (normal control), Group2 (300mg/kg/bw of the SpM extract),Group3 (600mg/kg/bw of the SpM extract),Group4(1.5g/kg/bw of Artesunate),Group5(3.5g/kg/bw of Artesunate).After 28days of treatment, the rats were sacrificed, the blood sample was collected by cardiac puncture for the analysis of haematological parameters. The relative organ and body weight changes were carried out. Result of the phytochemical (Quantitative) analysis shows higher content of phenol, flavonoid, reducing sugar, terpenoid, tannin, and alkaloid, hydrogen cyanide, steroids, saponins and glycoside with phenol having the highest concentration of (1761.29 ±0.006 mg/lOOg) compared to others, while steroid has the lowest concentration of (0.744 ± 0.006 mg/lOOg). The haematological parameters carried out showed a significant (P<0.05) increase in PCV, (52.25 ± 0.96%), Platelets (215 ± 5.77 xlO9/L) and WBC (5225±170.78 mm"3) of rats treated with 300 and 600mg/kg/bw compared to normal control groups and groups treated with 1.5 and 3.5g/kg/bw of artesunate. Also there was a significant (P<0.05) increase in RBC of rats treated with Artesunate compared to rat treated with SpM extract. The Hb of rats in the normal control showed a significant (P<0.05) increase compared to Hb of rats treated with SpM and artesunate. The body weight of the rats treated with SpM increases significantly compared to Artesunate treated rats. There was no significant difference in the relative organ weight of all the rat compared to control, however a significant decrease in the weight ofkidney was observed in group treated with lower dose of SpM. This result suggests that although the use ofspondias mombin is safe but its prolonged use may be toxic.