Effects of Siam weed (<I>Chromolaena odorata</I> ) leaf extract on hematological parameters and lipid profile of Wistar albino rats (<I>Rattus norvegicus</I>)

Abstract

The study investigates the effects of Chromolaena odorata leaf extract on the liver and blood parameters of Wistar albino rats ( Rattus norvegicus). The rats were divided into four groups of four rats per group. Group 1 ( control) received only feed and normal saline, groups 2 , 3 and 4 were treated with, 400mg/kg bw, 800mg/kg bw, and 1600mg/kg bw of chromolaena odorata ethanol extract respectively, on a daily basis for 21 days. After the administration period, the animals were sacrificed and the blood and liver taken for analyses. The result showed that groups 1-4 high density lipoprotein(HDL) had mean values of 1.5±0.12 mmol/l, 1.17±0.28 mmol/l, 1.15±0.17 mmol/l, and 1.1±0.15 mmol/l respectively, while low density lipoprotein (LDL) had mean values of 0.20±0.08 mmol/l, 0.40±0.13 mmol/l, 0.30±0.20 mmol/l, and 0.27±0.14 mmol/l respectively. The triglyceride (TG) values were 4.92±0.20 mmol/l, 5.02±0.28 mmol/l, 5.72±0.24 mmol/l and 4.72±0.33 mmol/l for groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in lipid profile when comparing the different groups and the control. However, the hematological parameters showed that the extract significantly reduced the red blood cell (RBC) from 6. ± 016 x 10¹² cells /l in the control to 5.35±0.32 x10¹² cells /l , 4.93± 0.23x10¹² cells /l and 4.87±0.24 x10¹² cells /l in groups 2,3,and 4 respectively. The packed cell volume (PCV) was also significantly reduced from 46.8 ±1.2 % in the control to 43.25± 0.96%, 41.00±1.16 % and 39.40± 0.57% in groups 2, 3 and 3 respectively. The hemoglobin concentration was also significantly reduced from 15.60±0.43 g/dl in the control to 14.50±0.34 g/dl, 13.70±0.41 g/dl, and 13.10±0.17 g/dl in groups 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The platelet count was reduced from 265± 38.73 x10⁹ cells /l in the control to 197.5±12.59x10⁹ cells /l 176.7±30.6x10⁹ cells /l in groups 2 and 4. Group 3 was not significantly different from the control. The WBC also had a significant reduction from 7.65±0.89x10⁹ cells /l in the control to 4.9±1.17c10⁹ cells /l, 5.66±0.74x10⁹ cells/l and 5.57±1.88x10⁹ cells /l. The neutrophil and lymphocytes were however not different significantly between the treatments and the control. This suggests that Chromolaena odorata leaf extract significantly affects the heamatological parameters but does not significantly affect the lipid profile.

Key words: Chromolaena odorata , hematological parameters , lipid profile.