Effects Of Methanolic Leaf Extract Of Cnidoscolus Aconitifolius On The Haematological Parameters Of Sodium Nitrate Intoxicated Female Albino Rats:- Maduka, Esther I

ABSTRACT xi Anaemia has been a major source of concern as it kills a lot of people all over the world every year that is why it is important to discover plants with excellent haematological properties. Cnidoscolus aconitifolius leaves also called Chaya is traditionally believed to boost blood level. This study was therefore carried out to evaluate the effects of methanolic leaf extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius on the haematological parameters of sodium nitrate intoxicated female albino rats. The rats were divided into five groups where group A was given plain water, group B was given 300mg/kg of NaNO3 only, groups C, D,E were the test groups and were given 300mg/kg ofNaNO3 plus 50mg/kg of Fesolate, 300mg/kg ofNaNO3 plus 300mg/kg ofthe plant extract and 300mg /kg of NaNO3 plus 600mg/kg of the plant extract respectively for 21 days. This was done to evaluate the effects of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius on haematological parameters. The result showed that group D given 300mg/kg ofNaNO3 with 300mg/kg ofthe extract had the highest levels of RBC value of 7.36 ± 0.19(xl012/L), PCV value of 46.00 ± 1.52 (%), haemoglobin level of 14.33 ± 0.35 (g/dl), platelet level of 296.67 ± 3.48 (xlO9/L), MCH level of 19.50 ± 0.69 (pg) and MCHC level of 31.22 ± 1.26(g/dl) while group B given 300mg/kg of NaNO3 only had the least levels of RBC value of 5.55 ± 0.27 (xlO12/L), PVC value of 33.67 ± 1.86 (%), haemoglobin value of 9.93 ± 0.29(g/dl), platelet value of 191.33 ± 7.88(xlO9/L), MCV value of 61.27 ± 5.97(FL) and highest WBC value of 9.50 ± 1.67 (xl09/L).Group A given plain water had the least levels of WBC value of 5.37 ± 0.35(xl09/L), MCH value of 17.31 ± 0.30 (pg), MCHC value of 27.57 ± 0.50 (g/dl) and highest MCV value of 62.5 ± 0.00 (FL). The result therefore showed that NaNO3 significantly reduced the RBC, PCV, Hb, PCT and MCV values of the blood causing anaemia significantly with an accompanied leukocytosis, while the extract given at a dose of 300mg/kg even when intoxicated with 300mg/kg of NaNO3 significantly increased RBC, PCV, Hb, PCT, MCH and MCHC showing that the extract can favourably increase the blood level at this dose (300mg/kg) since the group E given 300mg/kg of NaNO3 plus 600mg/kg of the plant extract did not give the highest haematological parameters. Moreover, the extract at the dose of 300mg/kg significantly increased the haematological parameters more than fesolate. Thus, this methanolic leaf extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius can be used in the treatment of anaemia at this particular dose