Haematological effects of aqueous extract of <i>Vernonia amygdalina</i> and a known immunostimulant In Wistar Rats

Abstract

Plants have provided sources of drugs which have made contribution to health. The use of plant extracts for the treatment of diseases is being practiced widely. Vernonia amygdalina (VA), otherwise known as bitter leaf is a shrub that grows commonly in tropical Africa and consumed as vegetable. People have considered bitter leaf as a traditional medicine, as its being used for the treatment of various illnesses such as fever, diarrhea, malaria, etc. However, its haematological effects are to be explored in this study.

Thirty adult male wistar rats weighing averagely 150g were studied. They were housed, fed and cared under humane conditions in the animal house. They were divided into six groups of 5 each, with groups I and II being controls while the others were experimental. Prednisone was administered for two weeks, then blood samples were taken following which the treatments were given for specified periods. The animals were thereafter sacrificed and blood samples for CD4 and haematologic parameters taken, as well as splenic organ for histology.

The results show weight increase across all groups. There was no appreciable difference in the CD4 and red blood cell count in the bitter leaf groups while the levamisole had significant decrease in these parameters. Bitter leaf was associated with significant decrease in haemoglobin level. The photomicrographs of the spleen showed decrease dimension in the white pulp and marginal zone. Levamisole and Vernonia amygdalina were associated with decreased haematological parameters.

Keyowrds: Vernonia amygdalina, Levamisole, Haematological parameters, Wistar rats