Polyherbal Tea Hyperlipidaemia Haematological Indices Wistar Rats Platelet Count Antiplatelet Activity Cardioprotective Effect Atherogenic Diet

Plants continue to play a vital role in healthcare, with around 11% of the World Health Organization's essential medicines derived from botanical sources. Combining two or more herbs can provide various health benefits. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of polyherbal-formulated teas comprising Anthocleista djalonensis, Musa paradisiaca, Curcuma longa, Mucuna pruriens, and Thespesia garckeana on haematological indices in Wistar rats with hyperlipidaemia induced by an atherogenic diet. Twenty-five rats were divided into five groups of five: group 1 served as the normal control, group 2 as the cholesterol control, groups 3 and 4 received polyherbal tea at doses of 20 and 40 mg/kg, respectively, and group 5 was treated with atorvastatin (5 mg/kg). Hyperlipidaemia was induced in groups 2 to 5 by administering 10 mg/kg of 1% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid. Treatments and the cholesterol diet were given orally for 28 days. Blood samples were collected and analysed using a haematology autoanalyzer. The polyherbal-formulated tea at both 20 and 40 mg/kg doses significantly reduced platelet counts compared to the cholesterol control group (p < 0.01), while other haematological parameters remained unaffected (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that the polyherbal tea may have antiplatelet and cardioprotective properties.