Effect Of Ethanol Extract Of Justicia Carnea Leaves On Haematological Parameters In Phenyl Hydrazine Induced Anaemia In Male Wistar Albino Rats:- Ebere Chidinma U

ABSTRACT Anaemia is a common blood disorder that affects people of all ages, though people at greater risk are the elderly, young women and infants. Different drugs are used but many depend mainly on plants and herbal products for its treatment. In this study, the effect of ethanol extract of Justicia carnea leaves on haematological parameters and body weight was studied on phenyl hydrazine induced anaemic male wistar albino rats. The acute toxicity study of the plant extract was also studied using nine mice. To assess the effect of the ethanol extract of Justicia carnea leaves on selected haematological and biochemical parameters, animals used were grouped into five of five rats each. Anaemia was induced using phenyl hydrazine (80mg/kg b.w) in three groups (2, 3 and 4) while group 1 (normal control) and group 5 (receiving 5mg/kg b.w. 2% DMSO) were not induced with anaemia. The result ofthe acute toxicity test showed no toxicity at 5000mg/kg b.w for the ethanol extract ofJusticia carnea. On days fourteen and twenty eight posttreatment, a significant increase (p < 0.05) was observed in dose dependent manner in the PCV value ofrats in groups 3 and 4 (500 and 1000 mg/kg b.w respectively of the extract), when compared to group 2 (induced with anaemia but not treated). There was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the RBC count, haemoglobin concentration ofrats in all groups when compared to the non-treated anaemic rats. Results also showed a decrease in the WBC count of animals in groups 3 and 4 when compared to group 2. The body weight of rats in all the groups increased significantly while the relative weight of spleen increased in the anaemic control rats when compared to normal and treated rats. From this study, it can be concluded that the leaves of Justicia carnea possess no toxic effect and serves as an effective haematinic.