Faculty
Department
Year of Publication
Publication Type
Abstract
The study investigated the effect of Acanthus montanus leaf's aqueous extract on male Wistar rats' haematological parameters. The research aimed to evaluate the ability of the plant extract to protect and restore normal haematological parameters following administration of the extract. Fifteen male Wistar rats were divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental groups received varying doses of the aqueous extract of Acanthus montanus orally for a specified period. Blood samples were analysed to determine haematological indices, including packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration (HB), red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC), and differential leukocyte count. Results revealed that administration of Acanthus montanus extract significantly (p < 0.05) improved haematological parameters in a dose- dependent manner compared to the untreated group. The extract normalised the levels of packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), and red blood cell (RBC) count, while also stabilising white blood cell (WBC) and lymphocyte counts. The study indicates that Acanthus montanus possesses potent haematoprotective activity, likely due to its phytoconstituents such as flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, and saponins, which help mitigateoxidative damage to blood cells. Therefore, the aqueous leaf extract of Acanthus montanus may serve as a potential natural therapeutic agent for managing haematological disorders and conditions associated with blood toxicity. Further studies are recommended to isolate and characterise the active compounds responsible for its protective effects.
Supervisor(s)
co-supervisor