Effect Of The Methanol Extract Of The Leaves Of P. Guajava On The Red Blood Cell (Rbc) Count Of IndomethaCin-Ulcerated Rats:- Kalu, Chidinma

ABSTRACT

Plants have been the basis for medical treatments through much of human history and such traditional medicine is still widely in use today such as the leaves of P. guajava. The objectives of this work were to examine the phytochemical constituents, acute toxicity and lethality and effects of the methanol extract of the leaves of P. guajava on Red blood cell (RBC) count of indomethacin- ulcerated rats. The preliminary phytochernical screening revealed that the plant leaves contained alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, carbohydrates, glycosides, proteins, steroids, terpenoids and fats and oil but resins, reducing sugars and acidic compounds were not detected. The extract at the tested doses [ 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight (b.w)] caused significant (p < 0.05) and dosedependent decreases red blood cell counts of the rats in the test groups compared to the values obtained for the rats in the control group. Significant (p <0.05) and dose-related increases in red blood cell count of the rats in the test groups compared to that of the rats in the control group was also brought about by the extract. The effects of the 400 mg/kg b.w of the extract were similar to those of the standard anti-ulcer drug, fonnatidine at the dose of 100 mg/kg b.w. The results indicate that the methanol extract of the leaves of P. guava contains some phannacological active principles which may help in the modulation of defensive factors through an improvement of the red blood cell (RBC) count in a dosedependent manner.